Libby tennis sends three to state

Libby hosted this year’s tennis divisional, but despite the hard work and strong performance of the Loggers, they were unable to grab the divisional title while it was here.

Libby placed third on the girls side and seventh on the boys side, with Polson trading off first and second in both. Whitefish took first for boys and Polson took first for girls.

Head Coach Kyle Hannah said that Polson was the favorite for the girls. But, that hadn’t kept the Lady Loggers from aiming to succeed.

“We had the hopes of knocking them off the pedestal, but we had our chances,” Hannah said. “We set ourselves up for the best possible scenario today, and just, we got beat by better players.”

Libby’s Isabelle Martineau will be going on to play at the state championship, but her loss in the semifinal round to Polson’sJosie Peterson ended her hopes of winning the championship.

The match between Martineau and Carlos drew a crowd as the two battled it out, set to set, game to game and point to point. Carlos kept trying to pull away during their final set, but Martineau refused to let her.

The final game of the final set ended with a shot into the net by a visibly frustrated Martineau.

“Her goal was to win it and set herself up for the best possible scenario at state,” Hannah said. Yet, as she fought her way back through consolation play, Hannah admired what she accomplised to claim third place.

“For her to bounce back and get to where she’s at, that just shows what kind of competitor she really is, he said.

Hannah also was impressed with Abigail Creighton, who had never picked up a racket until the beginning of the season, and yet was the second-to-last competitor Martineau had to face before securing a place at state.

In one consolation round, Creighton beat Hannah Schweikert, Columbia Falls’ number one, Hannah said. “Abigail just came out loose and showed what she can really do.”

In doubles play, Jessika Jones and Marissa Wood were able to advance to state as well.

Hannah praised them for coming back from a semifinal loss to still take third in consolation play.

“A real athlete is, their character, and you can see how much they want it after a loss. Some kids give up and flop, and other kids will persevere through,” Hannah said.

“And those guys did it — all three of them, the three girls we’re taking to state,” Hannah said.

The intensity of competition around the courts was much higher than during the Libby Invitational or duals played at home, with disagreement over scores or calls much more common.

Yet, as sportsmanship went, few were better examples than the Libby players.

“You know, I will honestly say that I think we have the — I know we have the best student athletes in the sport here in Libby, and parents, and atmosphere” Hannah said. “So, it’s just neat to be able to coach here. I’m pretty blessed.”

As the final matches of the divisional closed out the evening, even the Libby players who are done with competition for this season were far from finished.

When assistant Coach Terry Oedewaldt passed by Cierra Lucas — who was knocked out along with partner Elise Erickson in the third round of doubles play — her first question was when she can start working wiith Oedewaldt for next year.