Facing a strong challenge from Twin Falls, the Wood River High tennis team pulled together and played two days of outstanding tennis at the state-qualifying Great Basin Conference 4A meet Wednesday and Thursday in Twin Falls.
Wood River, qualifying 12 of its 16 entrants for upcoming state competition, piled up 36 points in girls’ doubles and 32 in boys’ doubles while playing Twin Falls to a standstill in the singles events. And the Wolverines needed every point.
Coach Carlos Meza’s Wolverines out-scored Twin Falls 120-107 for the Hailey school’s fourth consecutive Great Basin overall tennis championship and fifth in six years. Wood River won three of the five final matches on Thursday.
In the girls’ team totals, Wood River won its sixth straight Great Basin title by a hefty 63-43 margin over Twin Falls. And Wood River pushed Twin Falls to the limit in the boys’ standings, although the Bruins won the team title 64-57.
Basically, Wood River had a four-point advantage over Twin Falls based on Wednesday’s preliminary matches, and then extended the winning margin to 13 by the end of Thursday’s first-place and third-place matches to finalize state berths.
Senior Lily Richards captured the rubber match in her season-long duel with Minico senior Eva Mollik by a 7-5, 6-3 margin in the girls’ singles championship.
“Lily improved tremendously this season,” assistant coach Marcia Grabow said. “She stepped out onto the court poised and strong, and played a very clean match against a very strong opponent.”
Having placed second in boys’ doubles last May, Wolverine No. 2-seeded seniors Cole Caminiti and Josh Morell earned first place honors Thursday with a hard-fought 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over No. 1-seeded Andy Carter and Cole Hunt of Twin Falls. The Twin Falls pair had beaten Caminiti-Morell in their only previous meeting during the season.
The No. 1-seeded girls’ doubles pairing of senior Margaret Reutter and sophomore Haley Cutler provided the other gold medal for Wood River Thursday with a 6-1, 6-4 final match triumph over their teammates—unseeded junior Alex Taylor and her sister, freshman Samantha Taylor.
Second place in boys’ singles belonged to No. 2-seeded Wood River junior Stephen Pfeiffer. Twin Falls’ top-seeded senior Dallas Hunt won his first Great Basin singles title 6-2, 6-0 over Pfeiffer in the finale.
The other event champions Thursday came from host Twin Falls, in mixed doubles. Indeed the Bruins swept the top two spots in mixed doubles with winners Brad Pierce and Karin Olsen. They beat the runner-up team of Jacob Wickern-Jordyn Clark by scores of 6-3, 6-4.
A productive finish of third place came from Wood River’s unseeded tandem of sophomore Erik Wilander and freshman Danny Graves in boys’ doubles. They combined for five match wins including the 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 third-place victory over seniors Andrew Wickern and Shane Tucker of Twin Falls.
Placing fourth in mixed doubles for Wood River were No. 4-seeded sophomores Taylor Cooper and Tate Morell.
In the final accounting, Wood River qualified 12 for state, Twin Falls 11, Burley 5 and Minico 4.
Grabow added about Wood River players, “They exceeded our expectations. Twin Falls and Minico were both very strong this year, and our mix of ‘old’ and ‘new’ players all rose to the occasion, particularly in the three-set matches.”
The top four finishers in each event qualified to represent the conference at the State 4A tournament May 17-18 at Boise Racquet and Swim Club. The 4A State meet is a seeded tournament starting in 2013.
Eight players or teams are seeded in each event at the 2013 State 4A tourney—the top four seeds this coming weekend at Boise being the district champs from Districts 1/2, District 3, District 4 and Districts 5/6.
2013 Great Basin Conference 4A tennis tournament
May 8-9, 2013 in Twin Falls
95 players
Final overall team totals
1—WoodRiver 120 points—12 to state
2—Twin Falls 107 points—11 to state
3—Burley 52—5 to state
4—Minico 45—4 to state
5—Jerome 12—0 to state
6—Canyon Ridge 9—0 to state
Breakdown by boys and girls
Boys
1—Twin Falls 64
2—Wood River 57
3—Burley 25
4—Minico 18
5—Jerome 5.5
6—Canyon Ridge 4
Girls
1—Wood River 63
2—Twin Falls 43
3 (tie)—Burley 27
3 (tie)—Minico 27
5—Jerome 6.5
6—Canyon Ridge 5
Great Basin champions: 2002—Century of Pocatello. 2003—Century. 2004—Jerome. 2005—Pocatello. 2006—Century. 2007—Century.
2008—Century boys, Wood River girls, Wood River overall.
2009—Century boys, Wood River girls, Century overall.
2010—Wood River boys, Wood River girls, Wood River overall.
2011—Wood River boys, Wood River girls, Wood River overall.
2012—Wood River boys, Wood River girls, Wood River overall.
2013—Twin Falls boys, Wood River girls, Wood River overall.
Points by category—
WRHS (120) 20 BS 22 GS 32 BD 36 GD 10 MD= 120
Twin (107) 22 BS 20 GS 24 BD 5 GD 36 MD= 107
Burley (52) 13 BS 4 GS 5 BD 16 GD 14 MD= 52
Minico (45) 11 BS 17 GS 4 BD 7 GD 6 MD= 45
Jerome (12) 0 BS 3 GS 4 BD 2 GD 3 MD= 12
CRidge (9) 4 BS 2 GS 0 BD 3 GD 0 MD= 9
WR by event compared to 2012: BS -4, GS +2, BD -4, GD +12, MD -26
Points by singles/doubles—
WoodRiver (25-11 all matches)—42 points singles (8-5), 78 points doubles (17-6)
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Boys singles (12 players)
Seeds
1—Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior)
2—Stephen Pfeiffer (WR junior)
3—Angel Anguiano (Burley senior)
4—Cameron Jackson (Minico senior)
Final results (top 4 to state)
1—Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior, 3rd place BS 2010, 2nd place BS 2011-12)
2—Stephen Pfeiffer (WR junior)
3—Angel Anguiano (Burley senior, 3rd place 2012)
4—Derek Wilkins (Minico senior)
Championship—Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior) 6-2, 6-0 over Stephen Pfeiffer (WR junior)
Third place—Angel Anguiano (Burley senior) over Derek Wilkins (Minico senior)
WoodRiver players
Stephen Pfeiffer (2-1, senior)
Bye
Won 6-1, 6-2 over Derek Wilkins (Minico senior)
Won 6-1, 7-5 over Angel Anguiano (Burley senior)
Lost 6-2, 6-0 to Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior)—championship
Chase Hutchinson (2-2, junior)
Won 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 over Brennon Downs (Burley junior)
Won 6-3, 6-3 over Cameron Jackson (Minico senior)
Lost 6-0, 6-0 to Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior)
Lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Derek Wilkins (Minico senior)
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Girls singles (12 players)
Seeds
1—Eva Mollik (Minico senior)
2—Lily Richards (WR senior)
3—Jessica Wilson (Canyon Ridge senior)
4—Hailey Orton (Twin Falls junior)
Final results (top 4 to state)
1—Lily Richards (WR senior 3rd GS 2011, 2nd GS 2012)
2—Eva Mollik (Minico senior)
3—Hailey Orton (Twin Falls junior)
4—Lexi Brodin (Twin Falls freshman)
Championship—Lily Richards (WR senior) 7-5, 6-3 over Eva Mollik (Minico senior)
Third place—Hailey Orton (Twin Falls junior) 6-1, 6-2 over Lexi Brodin (Twin Falls freshman)
WoodRiver players
Lily Richards (3-0, senior)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Ashley Neuman (Jerome junior)
Won 6-2, 6-0 over Lexi Brodin (Twin Falls freshman)
Won 7-5, 6-3 over Eva Mollik (Minico senior)—championship
Alex Feldman (1-2, senior)
Won 6-1, 6-4 over Maddie Dahlquist (Canyon Ridge junior)
Lost 6-4, 6-0 to Hailey Orton (Twin Falls junior)
Lost 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to Kayleann Hawkes (Minico sophomore)
Boys doubles (12 teams)
Seeds
1—Andy Carter-Cole Hunt (Twin Falls sophomore, freshman)
2—Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (WR seniors)
3—Brandon Bean-Jaxon Greener (Burley seniors)
4—Bruno Garay-James Powell (Jerome junior, sophomore)
Final results (top 4 to state)
1—Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (WR seniors, 2nd BD 2012)
2—Andy Carter-Cole Hunt (Twin Falls sophomore, freshman)
3—Erik Wilander-Danny Graves (WR sophomore, freshman)
4—Andrew Wickern-Shane Tucker (Twin Falls seniors)
Championship—Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (WR seniors) 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 over Andy Carter-Cole Hunt (Twin Falls sophomore, freshman)
Third place—Erik Wilander-Danny Graves (WR sophomore, freshman) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 over Andrew Wickern-Shane Tucker (Twin Falls seniors)
WoodRiver teams
Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (3-0, seniors)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Fernando Santana-Abraham Ortiz (Minico junior, senior)
Won 6-2, 6-2 over Brandon Bean-Jaxon Greener (Burley seniors)
Won 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 over Andy Carter-Cole Hunt (Twin Falls sophomore, freshman)—championship
Erik Wilander-Danny Graves (5-1, sophomore, freshman)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-2 over Elliott Heiner-Zeke Contreras (Burley freshman, junior)
Lost 6-3, 6-0 to Andy Carter-Cole Hunt (Twin Falls sophomore, freshman)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Jed Latorre-Austin McEwan (Canyon Ridge sophomore, junior)
Won 6-2, 6-0 over Julio Figueroa-Michael Vandever (Minico junior, sophomore)
Won 6-4, 6-3 over Brandon Bean-Jaxon Greener (Burley seniors)
Won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 over Andrew Wickern-Shane Tucker (Twin Falls seniors)—3rd place
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Girls doubles (12 teams)
Seeds
1—Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (WR senior, sophomore)
2—Hailey Masoner-Kaci Carpenter (Burley senior, junior)
3—Bailey Staley-Stacie Sanderson (Minico seniors)
4—Morgan Biggs-Ashlyn Sumsion (Twin Falls freshman, sophomore)
Final results (top 4 to state)
1—Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (WR senior, sophomore)
2—Alex Taylor-Samantha Taylor (WR junior, freshman)
3—Hailey Masoner-Kaci Carpenter (Burley senior, junior)
4—Bailey Staley-Stacie Sanderson (Minico seniors)
Championship—Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (WR senior, sophomore) 6-1, 6-4 over Alex Taylor-Samantha Taylor (WR junior, freshman)
Third place—Hailey Masoner-Kaci Carpenter (Burley senior, junior) 6-2, 6-0 over Bailey Staley-Stacie Sanderson (Minico seniors)
WoodRiver teams
Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (3-0, senior, sophomore)
Bye
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Dom West-Joanie Mapes (Jerome sophomores)
Won over Morgan Biggs-Ashlyn Sumsion (Twin Falls freshman, sophomore)
Won 6-1, 6-4 over Alex Taylor-Samantha Taylor (WR junior, freshman)—championship
Alex Taylor-Samantha Taylor (3-1, junior, freshman)
Won 6-0, 6-0 over Yesenia Conchas-Liz Caliz (Jerome sophomores)
Won 6-3, 6-0 over Bailey Staley-Stacie Sanderson (Minico seniors)
Won 6-1, 6-3 over Hailey Masoner-Kaci Carpenter (Burley senior, junior)
Lost 6-1, 6-4 to Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (WR senior, sophomore)—championship
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Mixed doubles (12 teams)
Seeds
1—Brad Pierce-Karin Olsen (Twin Falls sophomore, senior)
2—Brandon Hosteen-Lexi Crane (Burley seniors)
3—William Bradford- Lyndie Mittelsteadt (Minico sophomore, senior)
4—Taylor Cooper-Tate Morell (WR sophomores)
Final results (top 4 to state)
1—Brad Pierce-Karin Olsen (Twin Falls sophomore, senior)
2—Jacob Wickern-Jordyn Clark (Twin Falls seniors)
3—Brandon Hosteen-Lexi Crane (Burley seniors)
4—Taylor Cooper-Tate Morell (WR sophomores)
Championship—Brad Pierce-Karin Olsen (Twin Falls sophomore, senior) 6-3, 6-4 over Jacob Wickern-Jordyn Clark (Twin Falls seniors)
Third place—Brandon Hosteen-Lexi Crane (Burley seniors) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 over Taylor Cooper-Tate Morell (WR sophomores)
WoodRiver teams
Taylor Cooper-Tate Morell (2-2, sophomores)
Bye
Won 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 over Cody Millward-Brooklyn Geary (Burley senior, junior)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Brad Pierce-Karin Olsen (Twin Falls sophomore, senior)
Won 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3) over William Bradford-Lyndie Mittelsteadt (Minico sophomore, senior)
Lost 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 to Brandon Hosteen-Lexi Crane (Burley seniors)—3rd place
Miles Remington-Audrey Brassil (1-2, sophomore, senior)
Lost 7-6 (4), 7-5 to Jacob Wickern-Jordyn Clark (Twin Falls seniors)
Won 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 over Cody Millward-Brooklyn Geary (Burley senior, junior)
Lost in split sets to Joshua Evenson-Amber Long (Minico seniors)