Boys' singles success is almost synonymous with the Community School's excellence over nearly 30 years at state high school tennis competition.
Yet, despite the independent school's string of 13 state singles titles since John Jacoby started the trend in 1985, there hadn't been a Cutthroat atop the podium since Tyler Martin won back-to-back in 2004-05.
Sophomore Michael Weaver reversed the curse Saturday by winning his first State 3A boys' singles championship in a 6-2, 6-3 decision over senior teammate Tim Kanellitsas at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.
Their singles point totals of 36, combined with four more by freshman George Everitt, gave coach Chris Gripkey's Cutthroats 40 points in boys' singles alone. Toss into the mix a third-place finish by the boys' doubles team of Hunter Weaver and Willis Sanchez-duPont and what have you got?
A state championship.
Piling up 62.5 boys' points over two days at state, the Cutthroats won the school's eighth state tennis tournament title—and third in four years. The nine Sun Valley boys knocked off defending boys' champion Parma (6 boys) by 17 points.
In the girls' team race, the Fruitland Grizzlies captured their second straight title with 83 points—48 coming in girls' singles and 25 girls' doubles.
The Cutthroat girls won a trophy by placing third with 23.5 points topped by a fourth place in girls' singles by sophomore Chloe Francois. Gaining another fourth place was the mixed doubles team of freshman Trenor Gould and soph Chloe Chrysikopoulos.
Overall team totals reflected the dominance of the State 3A powerhouses. Fruitland ended up with 118 points, Parma 91 and the Community School 86. The Cutthroat 25-18 match record at state was a big improvement over last year's 9-17.
The Weaver brothers were a big part of the turnaround.
Now a senior, Hunter Weaver gave up tennis a year ago but came out of "retirement" to play doubles this spring with freshman Sanchez-duPont. They won three matches at state including their 6-0, 6-2 third-place triumph over a Fruitland pair.
Weaver and Sanchez-duPont lost in split sets to the defending state champions and eventual 2012 winners Chance Velie and Kyler Beck of Parma.
In his semi-final match, Michael Weaver won a grueling, three-hour split-set match after dropping the first set 6-1. His opponent in the final, last year's state runner-up Kanellitsas, breezed to the final with three straight-set victories.
The 17 Cutthroat qualifiers at state came up with a team effort that was certainly better than the school's lofty average for the big meet. Having finished first or second at state in 14 of the last 16 state competitions, the Community School is averaging 76 points each spring. This time, it was 86.
2012 State 3A tennis tournament
May 18-19, 2012 at Vallivue and Caldwell high schools
14 schools, 96 players
Final overall team totals (state qualifiers in parentheses)
1—Fruitland (13).... 118 points
2—Parma (13).... 91
3—Community School (17)....86
4—Payette (4)....22
Others—Weiser (9) 15 points; Grangeville (9) 11; Clark Fork (8) 8; Gooding (5) 6; Coeur d'Alene Charter (3) 5; Deary (4) 5; Clearwater Valley (6) 4; Kamiah (2) 2; Homedale (1) 1; Sugar-Salem (2) 1.
Breakdown by boys and girls
Boys
1—Community School (8th state title) 62.5
2—Parma 45.5
3—Fruitland 35
4—Payette 16
5—Weiser 9
Girls
1—Fruitland (2nd straight state title) 83
2—Parma 45.5
3—Community School 23.5
4—Payette 6
5—Weiser 6
Points by category—
(118)—Fruitland 16 BS, 48 GS, 9 BD, 25 GD, 20 MD=118
1st—GS, MD. 2nd—GS, GD. 3rd—BS, GS. 4th—BD, GD.
(91)—Parma 0 BS, 4 GS, 36 BD, 32 GD, 19 MD=91
1st—BD, GD. 2nd—BD, MD. 3rd—GD. 4th—none.
(86)—Community School 40 BS, 13 GS, 16 BD, 4 GD, 13 MD=86
1st—BS. 2nd—BS. 3rds—BD. 4ths—GS, MD.
Note—The Cutthroats have finished first or second at state in 14 of the last 16 state meets. Successive point totals were 53 in 1997, 46 in 1998, 52 in 1999, 76 in 2000, 91 in 2001, 94 in 2002, 59 in 2003, 86 in 2004, 108 in 2005, 120 in 2006, 59 in 2007, 92 in 2008, 94 in 2009, 66 in 2010, 35 in 2011 and 86 in 2012. Average point total at state in those 16 years, including 2012, has been 76.1 points.
(22)—Payette 10 BS, 0 GS, 0 BD, 0 GD, 12 MD=22
1st—none. 2nd—none. 3rd—MD. 4th—BS.
Points by singles/doubles—
86—Community School.....25-18 all matches in 2012—53 points singles (13-7 matches), 33 points doubles (12-11).
History: 9-17 all matches in 2011, 23-19 all matches in 2010, 21-16 all matches in 2009, 26-19 all matches in 2008, 22-18 all matches in 2007, 33-15 all matches in 2006 and 30-14 in 2005.
State team championships (44th time):
2012 (3A)—Community School (boys) and Fruitland (girls)
2011 (3A)—Parma (boys) and Fruitland (girls)
2010 (3A)—Community School (boys) and Parma (girls)
2009 (3A)—Community School (boys) and Parma (girls)
2008 (3A)—Parma (boys) and Parma (girls)
2007 (3A)—Parma
2006 (3A)—Community School
2005 (3A)—Community School
2004 (3A)—Community School
2003 (3A)—Homedale
2002 (3A)—Community School. 2001 (A-2)—Community School.
1998-2000 (Class B)—Bishop Kelly. 1997—Jerome.
1996—Homedale. 1995—Bishop Kelly. 1993-94—Parma. 1992—Jerome.
1991—Parma. 1989-90—Jerome. 1988—Wood River. 1987—Vallivue.
1986—Wood River. 1985—Jerome. 1983-84—Bishop Kelly. 1982—Wood River.
1981—Gooding. 1975-80—Bishop Kelly. 1973-74—Payette. 1972—Bishop Kelly.
1971—Parma. 1970—Parma and Jerome. 1968-69—Parma.
Number of state team titles—Bishop Kelly 17 overall, Parma 13, Community School 8, Jerome 6, Wood River 4, Payette 2, Homedale 2, Fruitland 2, Gooding 1, Vallivue 1.
This was Community School's 29th year fielding a team, and 28th to state.
State titlists (21—13 S, 8 D):
2012—Michael Weaver BS.
2008—Cody Curran and Marin Shepardson GD.
2006—Wes Flanigan and Christian Cairncross BD.
2006—Max Sabel and Jessie Curran MD.
2005—Tyler Martin BS.
2005—Devon Bunce and Mandy Alexander GD.
2005—Wes Flanigan and Christian Cairncross BD.
2004—Tyler Martin BS.
2004—Luke Fostvedt and Mandy Alexander MD.
2003—Joel Evans BS.
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002—Lauren Drew GS.
2001, 2002—Ryan Drew BS.
2002—Joel Evans and Luke Fostvedt BD.
1997—Chancey Martin BS. 1992—Amy Stuhlberg and Adam Saphier MD.
1986—Tory Thornton GS. 1985—John Jacoby BS.
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Boys singles (12 players)
Final results
1—Michael Weaver (Community School sophomore)
2—Tim Kanellitsas (Community School senior, 2nd BS 2011)
3—Bryce Nattress (Fruitland junior, 3rd BS 2011)
4—Devin Soelberg (Payette junior)
Summary: CS 8-3 match record, 40 points BS
Championship—Michael Weaver (CS sophomore) 6-2, 6-3 over Tim Kanellitsas (Community School senior)
Third place—Bryce Nattress (Fruitland junior) 6-2, 6-2 over Devin Soelberg (Payette junior)
<
Local players
Michael Weaver (3-0, sophomore)
bye
Won 6-1, 6-3 over Francisco Mejia (Payette senior)
Won 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 over Bryce Nattress (Fruitland junior)
Won 6-2, 6-3 Tim Kanellitsas (CS senior)—championship
Tim Kanellitsas (3-1, senior)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Devin Soelberg (Payette junior)
Won 6-0, 6-2 over Dawson Crow (Fruitland junior)
Won 6-1, 6-1 over George Everitt (CS freshman)
Lost 6-2, 6-3 to Michael Weaver (CS sophomore)—championship
George Everitt (2-2, freshman)
Won 6-2, 6-0 over Nate Rathbun (Deary senior)
Won 6-4, 6-2 over Cooper Fales (Grangeville junior)
Lost 6-1, 6-1 to Tim Kanellitsas (CS senior)
Lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 to Devin Soelberg (Payette junior)
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Girls singles (12 players)
Final results
1—Emily Tesnohlidek (Fruitland senior, 3rd place GS 2010, 2nd place GS 2011)
2—Sadie Stutzman (Fruitland junior)
3—Allysha Yasuda (Fruitland sophomore)
4—Chloe Francois (Community School sophomore)
Summary: CS 5-4 match record, 13 points GS
Championship—Emily Tesnohlidek (Fruitland senior) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 over Sadie Stutzman (Fruitland junior)
Third place—Allysha Yasuda (Fruitland sophomore) 6-1, 6-0 over Chloe Francois (CS sophomore)
Local players
Chloe Francois (2-2, sophomore)
bye
Won 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Madeline Schwartz (Grangeville junior)
Lost 6-1, 6-1 to Emily Tesnohlidek (Fruitland senior)
Won 6-3, 6-1 over Sydney Hagenbuch (CS freshman)
Lost 6-1, 6-0 to Allysha Yasuda (Fruitland sophomore)—3rd place
Sydney Hagenbuch (3-2, freshman)
Won 6-2, 6-0 over Kennedy Cox (Grangeville junior)
Lost 6-0, 6-0 to Allysha Yasuda (Fruitland sophomore)
Won 6-4, 6-2 over Lynn Babich (CDA Charter junior)
Won 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 over Mindi Grantham (CDA Charter sophomore)
Lost 6-3, 6-1 to Chloe Francois (CS sophomore)
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Boys doubles (12 teams)
Final results
1—Chance Velie-Kyler Beck (Parma senior-junior, 1st BD 2011)
2—Jace Laub-Trevor Nielsen (Parma senior, sophomore)
3—Hunter Weaver-Willis Sanchez-duPont (CS senior, freshman)
4—Jaxxton Clayton-Joel Van Patten (Fruitland sophomores)
Summary: CS 5-3 match record, 16 points BD
Championship—Chance Velie-Kyler Beck (Parma senior-junior) 6-3, 6-4 over Jace Laub-Trevor Nielsen (Parma senior-sophomore)
Third place—Hunter Weaver-Willis Sanchez-duPont (CS senior, freshman) 6-0, 6-2 over Jaxxton Clayton-Joel Van Patten (Fruitland sophomores)
Local players
Hunter Weaver-Willis Sanchez-duPont (3-1, senior, freshman)
Bye
Won 6-2, 6-1 over Jaxxton Clayton-Joel Van Patten (Fruitland sophomores)
Lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Chance Velie-Kyler Beck (Parma senior-junior)
Won 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 over Angel Garcia-Manuel Sanuma (Gooding)
Won 6-0, 6-2 over Jaxxton Clayton-Joel Van Patten (Fruitland sophomores)—3rd place
Gunnar Ohlson-Zach Lindahl (2-2, juniors)
Won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 over Thomas Sharp-Derek Westover (Weiser senior, junior)
Won 6-1, 6-1 over Gavin Lewis-Brian Berkenbine (Grangeville junior, senior)
Lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 to Jace Laub-Trevor Nielsen (Parma senior, sophomore)
Lost 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 to Jaxxton Clayton-Joel Van Patten (Fruitland sophomores)
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Girls doubles (12 teams)
Final results
1—Riley Brixey-Landry Timmons (Parma senior, junior)
2—Hannah Farmer-Abby Tesnohlidek (Fruitland junior, sophomore, 3rd GD 2011)
3—Brittney Sorrell-Deborah Blanscet (Parma senior, sophomore)
4—Emma Farmer-Brooke Teunissen (Fruitland freshmen)
Summary: CS 1-4 match record, 4 points GD
Championship— Riley Brixey-Landry Timmons (Parma senior, junior) 6-3, 6-3 over Hannah Farmer-Abby Tesnohlidek (Fruitland junior, sophomore)
Third place—Brittney Sorrell-Deborah Blanscet (Parma senior, sophomore) 6-0, 6-1 over Emma Farmer-Brooke Teunissen (Fruitland freshmen)
Local players
Taylor Figge-Ella Marks (1-2, juniors)
Bye
Lost 6-2, 6-1 to Emma Farmer-Brooke Teunissen (Fruitland freshmen)
Won 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 over Josie Bunce-Jolie Blair (CS senior, sophomore)
Lost 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to McKenzie Johnson-Madison Walker (Weiser senior, junior)
Josie Bunce-Jolie Blair (0-2, senior, sophomore)
Lost 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 to Hailey Workman-Chelsea Hofford (Deary juniors)
Lost 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 to Taylor Figge-Ella Marks (CS juniors)
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Mixed doubles (12 teams)
Final results
1—Seth Reed-Miranda Clinton (Fruitland seniors)
2—Kirk Rohrbacher-Natasha Capistran (Parma senior, junior)
3—Matt Bake-Kaley King (Payette junior-senior, 2nd place MD 2011)
4—Trenor Gould-Chloe Chrysikopoulos (Comm. School freshman, sophomore)
Summary: CS 6-4 match record, 13 points MD
Championship—Seth Reed-Miranda Clinton (Fruitland seniors) 6-0, 6-4 over Kirk Rohrbacher-Natasha Capistran (Parma senior, junior)
Third place—Matt Bake-Kaley King (Payette junior-senior) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 over Trenor Gould-Chloe Chrysikopoulos (Comm. School freshman, sophomore)
Local players
Trenor Gould-Chloe Chrysikopoulos (3-2, freshmen, sophomore)
bye
Lost 6-1, 6-1 to Seth Reed-Miranda Clinton (Fruitland seniors)
Won 6-4, 6-0 over Khai Nyugen-Hannah Waltmann (Clearwater Valley junior, senior)
Won 6-3, 6-4 over Seth Larson-Lauren Smyser (Parma junior, freshman)
Won 6-0, 6-1 over Brennan Tolman-Amanda Alder (Weiser junior, senior)
Lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 to Matt Bake-Kaley King (Payette junior, senior)—3rd place
Eric Runkel-Morgan Jones (3-2, seniors)
Won 6-3, 6-1 over Khai Nyugen-Hannah Waltmann (Clearwater Valley junior, senior)
Lost 6-2, 6-4 to Kirk Rohrbacher-Natasha Capistran (Parma senior, junior)
Won 6-1, 6-0 over Allen Blankenship-Tala Echsel (Clark Fork junior, senior)
Won 6-3, 6-2 over Garrett Ulmer-Emily Lane (Kamiah senior, junior)
Lost 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 to Matt Bake-Kaley King (Payette junior, senior)
Community School senior Tim Kanellitsas racked up his second straight runner-up finish in the State 3A tennis tournament Saturday with a championship match loss to teammate Michael Weaver at Vallivue High School in Caldwell. Courtesy photo
