For the week of May 8 - 14, 2002

A capital time

Cutthroat tennis team fares well in Boise

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By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

By all accounts, the Capital Invitational prep tennis tournament features no "gimmes."

Every match is a test tougher than your high school science teacher ever dreamed up. The person across the net wants to carve you up like a Christmas goose and your next opponent—if there is a next opponent—wants to as well.

Community School senior Ryan Drew volleys during his straight-set boys’ singles victory over Wood River’s Patrick Brennan last Wednesday at Ironwood Athletic Club. Defending State Class B singles champ Drew made it to the semifinals of the main draw of last weekend’s Capital Invitational in Boise. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Last weekend’s 24-team tournament attracted some of the biggest Idaho schools and a few from Oregon and Washington. The two-day Sundance Dodge meet was staged at various courts around Boise.

It was a good test for everyone, with state tourneys on the horizon. Community School coach Mark Scribner explained the tournament’s appeal. "It’s the competition," he said.

Judging by the Cutthroats’ performance, winning their fifth consecutive district championship this coming weekend at Sun Valley could be a very attainable goal.

The Community School finished in a two-way tie for 10th place with 189 points. Boise claimed the meet, amassing 278. Hermiston, Ore. was runner-up with 255 points and host Capital placed third with 253.

"Every kid did exceptionally well," Scribner said. "All went to the championship round."

Sophomore Amy Alexander (6-0) won the championship in #3 girls singles by way of a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jamie Cimmiyotti of Hermiston.

A steady player, Alexander did not drop a single game on the first day and ran up a 4-0 mark (including a bye) in Saturday’s championship play.

Jessie Woodyard, Wood River junior, returns a ball during her girls’ doubles match with partner Ashley Lakey Wednesday in Hailey. Woodyard won district girls’ doubles last year and placed third at state. Express photo by David N. Seelig

 

Defending State Class B boys’ singles champ Ryan Drew, a senior, made it to the semifinals of the main draw before bowing to eventual runner-up John Hieb of Twin Falls, 6-3, 6-3. Drew’s only other loss was to the tourney’s champion, Evan Specht of Centennial.

"Ryan played great," Scribner said.

Tyler Martin, a freshman, qualified for the semifinals in #2 boys’ singles, before getting knocked off by champion Morgan Keller of Bishop Kelly.

Two state champions, both seniors, faced off in the quarterfinals of #1 girls’ singles. Three-time defending Class B singles titlist Lauren Drew of The Community School clashed with Class A queen Lindsay Bennion of Idaho Falls.

Bennion won the first set 6-3. Drew took the second 6-4 and Bennion came back to claim the tiebreaker 7-4.

Cutthroat senior Tami Parten duplicated Lauren’s feat in #2 girls singles, losing in a tiebreaker in the quarterfinals.

Luke Fostvedt and Joel Evans cruised to a 3-0 record in boys’ #1 doubles, but had to head home so Evans could take the SAT college entrance test.

In #2 boys’ doubles, Lee Gurney and Chadd Montgomery advanced to the main draw with a 2-1 mark and won a match before bowing out.

"They lost to a very good team from Madison," Scribner said.

Epic was the only word to describe Langely McNeal and Josh Kantor’s tournament.

The #1 mixed pair from Ketchum went 1-2 Friday, but the seniors marched through the consolation bracket, winning three matches before falling in the final.

Wood River High School’s senior girls’ doubles tandem of Brisa Ayub and Katie Dondero won all five of their matches Saturday to finish third in consolation. They finished 6-2 over two days.

All the other Wolverine entries in the Capital Invitational made it into Saturday’s consolation action and gained valuable court time, Hailey coach Kirk Mason said.

 

Blaine County duel

The first clash between the two local prep tennis teams went The Community School’s way with the Cutthroats winning 9-3 in Hailey Wednesday.

Ketchum/Sun Valley swept singles and boys’ doubles and won #1 mixed doubles.

The closest match had Ketchum’s Chadd Montgomery and Lee Gurney outlasting Danny Gariepy and Tristan Potters of Hailey 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to win #2 boys’ doubles.

Josh Kantor and Langely McNeal prevailed in three sets over Hailey’s Honza Walter and Kiette Tucker in #1 mixed.

The Cutthroats end the regular season by hosting Twin Falls, today, Wednesday, May 8, 3:30 p.m. at Warm Springs.

"It will be interesting to play Twin. They won the state championship two years ago. I think we can push them 8-4 or 7-5 if things go our way," Scribner said.

Sun Valley Tennis Club is the site of the 2002 district tennis tournament, Friday and Saturday, May 10-11.

Recent results:

Capital Invitational

Cutthroat singles

·  Boys #1—Ryan Drew 4-2 record. #2—Tyler Martin 4-1. #3—John Kennedy withdrew (back).

·  Girls #1—Lauren Drew 4-1. #2—Tami Parten 3-2. #3—Amy Alexander 6-0, 1st place.

Cutthroat doubles

·  Boys #1—Luke Fostvedt/Joel Evans 3-0. #2—Chadd Montgomery/Lee Gurney 3-2.

·  Girls #1—Abby Minford/Joanie Baumgardner 1-4. Girls #2—Pauli Ochi/Erika Connelly 0-3.

·  Mixed doubles #1—Langely McNeal/Josh Cantor 4-3. #2—Morgan LaPeter/J.P. McNeal 0-3.

 

CSchool 9, Wood River 3

·  Boys’ singles

#1—Ryan Drew (CS) def. Patrick Brennan (WR) 6-1, 6-0. #2—Tyler Martin (CS) def. Will Hemmings (WR) 6-0, 6-1. #3—John Kennedy (CS) def. William Dubois (WR) 6-1, 6-1.

·  Girls’ singles

#1—Lauren Drew (CS) def. Amanda Parks (WR) 6-1, 6-0. #2—Tami Parten (CS) def. Amanda Smith (WR) 6-0, 6-0. #3—Amy Alexander (CS) def. Ellie France (WR) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.

·  Boys’ doubles

#1—Joel Evans/Luke Fostvedt (CS) def. Tate Mills/Vince Nagashima (WR) 6-4, 6-2. #2—Chadd Montgomery/Lee Gurney (CS) def. Danny Gariepy/Tristan Potters (WR) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

·  Girls’ doubles

#1—Ashley Lakey/Jessie Woodyard (WR) def. Abby Minford/Joanie Baumgardner (CS) 6-1, 6-2. 2—Brisa Ayub/Katie Dondero (WR) def. Pauli Ochi/Erika Connelly (CS) 6-1, 6-0.

·  Mixed doubles

1—Josh Kantor/Langely McNeal (CS) def. Honza Walter/Kiette Tucker (WR) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. 2—Edward Sawicz/Allison Kelsey (WR) def. J.P. McNeal/Morgan LaPeter (CS) 6-1, 7-5.

 

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