The Community School Cutthroats were big fish in a small pond Friday with a dominating effort in the three-school Fourth District 3A tennis tournament played on a sunny day at Sun Valley Tennis Club.
Winning all five events Friday and amassing 177 points, the Cutthroats captured their 11th district tennis championship in 12 years, and fifth straight, by a 136-point margin over second-place Gooding (41).
Seniors Peter Atkinson and Courtney Hamilton swept to singles' titles—Hamilton never losing a game and Atkinson yielding only three games in three straight-set wins. Hamilton defended her district title. She was third at state in 2008.
All three top-seeded Cutthroat doubles teams won their events—Chet Stephens and Hunter Weaver in boys' doubles, Marin Shepardson and Emmy O'Reilly in girls' doubles, and Tanner Flanigan and Ricki Eshman mixed doubles.
Overall the Cutthroats went 24-7 in their matches Friday, piling up 81 points singles and 96 doubles. They had 87 boys' points and 90 from girls, with the mixed doubles split.
Cutthroat coaches Phil Huss, Chris Gripkey and John Kearney Jr. were pleased that 17 of the 18 Cutthroat district entries qualified for the State 3A tennis tourney Friday and Saturday, May 15-16 on the Vallivue High courts in Caldwell.
Of the TCS state qualifiers, there are seven seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen.
They know the toughest task lies ahead—going up against two-time defending State 3A champion Parma in the state tournament. Parma relegated 2004-06 state champ The Community School to second place last year—115-92 in points overall, 58 to 35.5 in boys' points, and 57 to 56.5 girls.
Shepardson won a state girls' doubles title last year. Coach Huss feels the Cutthroats are stronger in mixed doubles this year and they have to be against Parma. The Panthers finished first and second in mixed doubles at state in 2008, outdistancing the Cutthroats by 23 in that event.
Boys' singles
Championship—Peter Atkinson (CS senior) 6-1, 6-2 over Karl Wilander (CS freshman)
Third place—Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding) 6-0, 6-2 over Tim Kanellitsas (CS freshman)
Girls' singles
Championship—Courtney Hamilton (CS senior) 6-0, 6-0 over Emma Wilander (CS sophomore)
Third place—Julianna Lamb (CS sophomore) 6-3, 6-0 over Carly Grant (S-S)
Boys' doubles
Championship—Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (CS senior-freshman) 6-3, 6-4 over Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (CS senior-junior)
Third place—Cameron Christiansen-Bryden Morris (S-S) 6-0, 6-3 over Cody Kinghorn-Mike Larson (S-S)
Girls' doubles
Championship—Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (CS seniors) 6-1, 6-2 over Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (CS freshmen)
Third place—Crystal Thatcher-Meghan Hurd (Gooding) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 over Celene Nino-Marissa Martinez (Gooding)
Mixed doubles
Championship—Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (CS juniors) 6-1, 7-5 over John Martin-Melissa Becker (CS senior, junior)
Third place—Tim Arkoosh-Renee Howells (Gooding) 6-2, 6-3 over Ryan Briggs-Megan Larson (S-S)
2009 Fourth District 3A tennis tournament results
May 8, 2009 at Sun Valley Tennis Club
51 players
Final team standings
1—Community School 177 points—11th district title in 12 years, 5th straight
2—Gooding 41 points (14 points singles, 27 doubles)
3—Sugar-Salem 36 points (12 points singles, 24 doubles)
Breakdown by boys and girls
Boys
1—Community School 87
2—Sugar-Salem 21.5
3—Gooding 17
Girls
1—Community School 90
2—Gooding 24
3—Sugar-Salem 14.5
Points by singles/doubles—
Community School (24-7 all matches)—81 points singles (15-4), 96 points doubles (9-3)
Points by category—
CS (177) 39 BS 42 GS 32 BD 32 GD 32 MD 177
Good (41) 12 BS 2 GS 0 BD 17 GD 10 MD 41
S-S (36) 1 BS 11 GS 17 BD 0 GD 7 MD 36
On to state (three in each category):
Community School (18 entrants)—17 to state (5 S, 12 D)
Gooding (18 entrants)—5 to state (1 S, 4 D)
Sugar-Salem (15 entrants)—2 to state (0 S, 2 D)
Fourth District 3A/Class B team championships:
Community School (13)—2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1989, 1987
Wood River (13)—2004, 1993-96, 1990, 1988, 1982, 1976-80
Gooding (1)—1981
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Boys singles (9 players)
Seeds
1—Peter Atkinson (CS senior)
2—Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding)
3—Karl Wilander (CS freshman)
Final results (top 3 to state)
1—Peter Atkinson (CS senior)
2—Karl Wilander (CS freshman)
3—Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding)
4—Tim Kanellitsas (CS freshman)
Championship—Peter Atkinson (CS senior) 6-1, 6-2 over Karl Wilander (CS freshman)
Third place—Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding) 6-0, 6-2 over Tim Kanellitsas (CS freshman)
Community School players
Peter Atkinson (3-0, senior)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Brendan Harris (S-S)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Tim Kanellitsas (CS)
Won 6-1, 6-2 over Karl Wilander (CS)—championship
Karl Wilander (2-1, freshman)
Won 6-1, 6-1 over Drew Mecham (S-S)
Won 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-0) over Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Peter Atkinson (CS)—championship
Tim Kanellitsas (2-2, freshman)
Won 6-1, 6-1 over Kirk Kerr (Good)
Lost 6-0, 6-0 to Peter Atkinson (CS)
Won 6-1, 6-1 over Brendan Harris (S-S)
Lost 6-0, 6-2 to Punn Pruetpattara (Gooding)—third place
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Girls singles (8 players)
Seeds
1—Courtney Hamilton (CS senior)
2—Emma Wilander (CS sophomore)
3—Carly Grant (S-S)
Final results (top 3 to state)
1—Courtney Hamilton (CS senior), GS champion 2008
2—Emma Wilander (CS sophomore), 3rd place 2008
3—Julianna Lamb (CS sophomore)
4—Carly Grant (S-S)
Championship—Courtney Hamilton (CS senior) 6-0, 6-0 over Emma Wilander (CS sophomore)
Third place—Julianna Lamb (CS sophomore) 6-3, 6-0 over Carly Grant (S-S)
Community School players
Courtney Hamilton (3-0, senior)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Sophia Birkenstock (Good)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Jenna Osterman (Good)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Emma Wilander (CS)—championship
Emma Wilander (2-1, sophomore)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Victoria Holman (S-S)
Won 7-5, 7-6 (15-13) over Julianna Lamb (CS sophomore)
Lost 6-0, 6-0 to Courtney Hamilton (CS)—championship
Julianna Lamb (3-1, sophomore)
Won 6-0, 6-4 over Carly Grant (S-S)
Lost 7-5, 7-6 (15-13) to Emma Wilander (CS)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Victoria Holman (S-S)
Won 6-3, 6-0 over Carly Grant (S-S)—third place
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Boys doubles (6 teams)
Seeds
1—Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (CS senior-freshman)
2—Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (CS senior-junior)
3—Cameron Christiansen-Bryden Morris (S-S)
Final results (top 3 to state)
1—Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (CS senior-freshman)
2—Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (CS senior-junior)
3—Cameron Christiansen-Bryden Morris (S-S)
4—Cody Kinghorn-Mike Larson (S-S)
Championship—Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (CS senior-freshman) 6-3, 6-4 over Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (CS senior-junior)
Third place—Cameron Christiansen-Bryden Morris (S-S) 6-0, 6-3 over Cody Kinghorn-Mike Larson (S-S)
Community School teams
Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (2-0, senior, freshman)
Bye
Won 6-2, 6-4 over Cody Kinghorn-Mike Larson (S-S)
Won 6-3, 6-4 over Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (CS)—championship
Riley Berman-Jamie Jameson (1-1, senior, junior)
Bye
Won 6-1, 6-3 over Cameron Christiansen-Bryden Morris (S-S)
Lost 6-3, 6-4 to Chet Stephens-Hunter Weaver (CS)—championship
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Girls doubles (5 teams)
Seeds
1—Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (CS seniors)
2—Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (CS freshmen)
3—Crystal Thatcher-Meghan Hurd (Gooding)
Final results (top 3 to state)
1— Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (CS seniors)
2—Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (CS freshmen)
3—Crystal Thatcher-Meghan Hurd (Gooding)
4—Celene Nino-Marissa Martinez (Gooding)
Championship—Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (CS seniors) 6-1, 6-2 over Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (CS freshmen)
Third place—Crystal Thatcher-Meghan Hurd (Gooding) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 over Celene Nino-Marissa Martinez (Gooding)
Community School teams
Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (2-0, seniors)
Won 6-0, 6-1 over Celene Nino-Marissa Martinez (Gooding)
Won 6-1, 6-2 over Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (CS)—championship
Morgan Atkinson-Teagen Palmer (1-1, freshmen)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Crystal Thatcher-Meghan Hurd (Gooding)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Marin Shepardson-Emmy O'Reilly (CS)—championship
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Mixed doubles (6 teams)
Seeds
1—Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (CS juniors)
2—John Martin-Melissa Becker (CS senior, junior)
3—Ryan Briggs-Megan Larson (S-S)
Final results (top 3 to state)
1—Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (CS juniors)
2—John Martin-Melissa Becker (CS senior, junior), 3rd place 2008
3—Tim Arkoosh-Renee Howells (Gooding)
4—Ryan Briggs-Megan Larson (S-S)
Championship—Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (CS juniors) 6-1, 7-5 over John Martin-Melissa Becker (CS senior, junior)
Third place—Tim Arkoosh-Renee Howells (Gooding) 6-2, 6-3 over Ryan Briggs-Megan Larson (S-S)
Community School teams
Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (2-0, juniors)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Tim Arkoosh-Renee Howells (Gooding)
Won 6-1, 7-5 over John Martin-Melissa Becker (CS senior, junior)—championship
John Martin-Melissa Becker (1-1, senior, junior)
Won 6-3, 6-1 over Ryan Briggs-Megan Larson (S-S)
Lost 6-1, 7-5 to Tanner Flanigan-Ricki Eshman (CS juniors)—championship
Community School junior Tanner Flanigan teamed with junior Ricki Eshman to capture first place in the district mixed doubles competition Friday at Sun Valley Tennis Club.
