Libby Invitational survives wind and rain delays

Last year was the first year Libby tried to hold an invitational tennis tournament, but the rain came down and washed the netters out of competition. This year, the day started with sunshine and only turned to wind and rain later in the afternoon. Rain briefly delayed the contest for a bit and matches that started at 9 a.m. finished just before dark at about 9 p.m.

At the Libby Community Courts 61 matches were played on six courts. The No. 1s and 2s played in one bracket and 3s and 4s in another; there were simply too many athletes to have a bracket where the lower seeds could rise to play the top players.

Logger Walter Briones continued to baffle his opponents with his style of play more suited for the clay court, which most players aren’t familiar with. Briones, still undefeated, breezed through the competition and won the championship match against teammate Jason Brant, 6-0, 6-0.

Libby No. 1 girls’ singles player Kaylene Hudson bounced back from a second round loss to win out on the consolation side of the bracket and earned third place by defeating another Logger, Dani Hawthorne, 6-1, 6-3.

Head Logger coach Kyle Hannah said with a number of his team members playing soccer on Saturday the invitational provided a good opportunity for a few different players to step up and play some higher ranked opponents.

“Jason Brant played the best tennis he has played in three years,” Hannah said. “He played under control and with confidence.”

On the girls’ side, Hannah offered praise for the play of Paula Fernandez. “Fernandez is becoming a tenacious player. She is starting to get to every ball and keeps the ball in play ,frustrating her opponents.”

Hannah made his way around the courts all day and offered positive critiques and suggestions through the chain link fences. 

“Jenna Barrick and Cloie Boardner played the best doubles they have played all year long,” Hannah said. “Raymond Sadewasser played exceptionally well in the boys 3s and 4s. He hit the ball with consistency and accuracy,” he said.

Boardner and Barrick took third by beating Ronan doubles’ team of Hannah Bird Rattler and Hannah Kiehn, 6-3, 4-6, 10-3.

For the Troy Trojans, after a frustrating first round game, Dominic Chiaverini won the rest of his matches to take third. In his final match of the day he handily defeated Jhamaal Sykes of Libby, 6-1, 6-0. 

“Dominic kind of struggled at first, but went on to play good tennis the rest of the day,” Troy assistant coach Nancy Prieve said.

With an additional 12 matches played at the Club Courts, Prieve wasn’t able to watch the No. 3 and 4 boys, but she was pleased with the way their matches turned out. 

“They did really well,” Prieve said. “We had Brylee Freund, who hadn’t won a match all season, win the No. 3 and 4 singles’ bracket, so that was good. And AJ Faur played in the consolation match.”

Both players are first year players who were able to gain some confidence by adding some victories to their records. 

Second-year Trojan netter Molly Walters came away with second place in the No. 3 and 4 bracket.

Trojans’ doubles’ team of Taylor Brown and Azure Stever played well for only having played together for a brief period. “They lost, but played some tough matches. In one match both sets were tie breakers and the third set was a tie-breaker, so they really played a lot of tennis. They’re coming along well.”

Hannah wanted to give thanks to all of the volunteers who helped keep the train on the tracks. Dave and Kathy Nelson manned the scorers table, keeping track of results, calling out the next matches and handing out fresh tennis balls. 

In rain or shine, Aaron Oedewaldt slang burgers and hot dogs, with or without cheese. 

Hannah also gave thanks to Pat Neils for the use of the Club Courts.

Prieve said one of the neatest parts of the day was the kids from the various schools becoming friends throughout the long day. 

The schools that participated were Libby, Troy, Bigfork, Ronan and Mission.