You’ve got to be talented, tough and resilient to succeed on the big stage of the State 4A tennis tournament sponsored each year by the Idaho High School Activities Association.
Wood River High School senior Margaret Reutter and sophomore Haley Cutler filled all three attributes Friday and Saturday on the courts at Boise Racquet & Swim Club and Capital High School in Boise.
Top-seeded Reutter and Cutler won all four of their matches in the 4A girls’ doubles category including a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Century senior Olivia Wathne and her sister, freshman Ella Wathne, in Saturday’s championship match.
Wood River coach Carlos Meza said about Reutter and Cutler, “They have a strong game all around. They can have a tough stretch and are able to pull it back together.”
Reutter and Cutler didn’t have many tough stretches in capturing their final three state matches in straight sets.
Winning the 20th individual state tennis title for Wood River athletes, Reutter and Cutler also became the first-ever Wood River state girls’ doubles winners in the 4A category. They are now the fifth Wolverine state girls’ doubles champions in the 38 years Hailey teams have competed at state.
Reutter and Cutler had also defeated the Wathne sisters 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in the championship match of the Capital Invitational tourney in Boise April 27. Olivia Wathne had won three straight State 4A girls’ singles titles and was playing doubles for the first time.
The Wood River players have enjoyed success on the big Boise stage, but not with each other. As a freshman Reutter teamed with her older sister Lauren to place fourth in girls’ doubles at the State 4A tournament. Cutler was a third-place mixed doubles finisher as a freshman at state last May.
Wood River assistant coach Marcia Grabow said, “Margaret and Haley dominated the field in girls’ doubles. Strong serving, crisp and consistent service returns and a powerful net presence earned the first-ever 4A state girls’ doubles title for Wood River.”
The Wood River girls (24 points) also earned a fourth-place team trophy, tying with Caldwell. Meza’s Hailey squad, with 12 state entrants, finished third in the overall (combined boys and girls points) standings with 36 points behind overall titlist Century of Pocatello (53) and Blackfoot (47).
Grabow said, “It was a transition year with many new varsity players, a new head coach (Meza) and a new assistant coach (Scott Chaffin). Win or lose, the players gave it their all. The seniors all made it to the second day at state. Our younger players lost in tight three-set matches, often to teams that made it to the top four.”
Also earning individual medals for finishing in the top four in their event were Wolverine seniors Cole Caminiti and Josh Morell. They won three boys’ doubles matches and forced a third set in the third-place match against Nampa with an exciting tiebreaker win in the second set.
Grabow said, “Playing in a very tough boys’ doubles field, Josh and Cole stood out with their smart play, great gets, and awesome net play. It was a wonderful capstone for a great team!”
Other Wood River players at state and comments from coach Grabow:
· Lily Richards (senior, 2-2 in girls’ singles at state): “Lily lost in the consolation semifinals only after grinding out long rallies that were amazing to watch. Both players demonstrated their knowledge of the game via their strategy. It’s been a pleasure to watch Lily improve year after year!
· Stephen Pfeiffer (junior, 1-2 boys’ singles): “Stephen had incredible come-from-behind victories this year. He has shown tremendous tenacity and consistency all season long and is ability to bring up his game again and again served him well in his three-set matches.”
· Alex and Samantha Taylor (junior, freshman, 1-2 girls’ doubles): “The Taylors played an amazing three-set match against the fourth-place team, losing in a tiebreaker in the third set. They hit extremely well and their play bodes very well for what is to come next season.”
· Erik Wilander and Danny Graves (sophomore, freshman, 1-2 boys’ doubles): “Erik and Danny had a great three-set win over Century, and an impressive three-set match against a very strong Sandpoint team. Great play in their first season for Wood River tennis!”
· Taylor Cooper and Tate Morell (sophomores, 0-2 mixed doubles): “Taylor and Tate are a fairly new team and improved in each match at state. Taylor was extremely fast with quick hands at net, and Tate stayed cool under pressure, with strong returns and effective net play point after point.”
2013 State 4A tennis tournament
May 17-18, 2013
At Boise Racquet & Swim Club (headquarters, finals), Capital and Borah high schools
20 schools, 128 players
Final overall team totals (state qualifiers in parentheses)
1—Century of Pocatello (10)…..53 points
2—Blackfoot (11)…..47
3—Wood River (12)…..36
4—Bonneville of Idaho Falls (10)…..31
5—Skyview of Nampa (8)…..30
Others—Columbia of Nampa (9) 29; Caldwell (7) 28; Nampa (5) 27; Twin Falls (11) 21; Bishop Kelly of Boise (9) 20; Sandpoint (9) 11; Minico of Rupert (4) 9; Middleton (1) 9; Moscow (5) 9; Kuna (2) 6; Burley (5) 5; Lakeland (2) 3; Mountain Home (2) 1. With no points were Rigby (1) and Emmett (5).
Breakdown by boys and girls
Boys
1—Century…. 28 (1st boys’ title, 2nd overall)
2—Blackfoot…. 27.5
3—Columbia…. 25.5
4—Twin Falls….20.5
5—Nampa….18
6—Bishop Kelly….17
7—Wood River….12
Girls
1—Skyview…..29 (1st state title)
2—Century….25(last year’s champion)
3—Bonneville……24.5
4 (tie)—Wood River…….24
4 (tie)—Caldwell……24
Points by category—
(53)—Century 20 BS, 1 GS, 0 BD, 16 GD, 16 MD=53
1st—BS. 2nd—GD, MD. 3rd—none. 4th—none.
(47)—Blackfoot 0 BS, 1 GS, 16 BD, 8 GD, 22 MD=47
1st—MD. 2nd—BD. 3rd—none. 4th—GD.
(36)—WoodRiver 2 BS, 2 GS, 10 BD, 22 GD, 0 MD=36
1st—GD. 2nd—none. 3rd—none. 4th—BD.
(31)—Bonneville 0 BS, 20 GS, 2 BD, 0 GD, 9 MD=31
1st—none. 2nd—GS. 3rd—none. 4th—MD.
Points by singles/doubles—
36—Wood River (12-12 all matches)—4 points singles (3-4), 32 points doubles (9-8)
State team championships (45th time):
2013 (4A)—Century (boys, 2nd state title) and Skyview (girls, 1st state title)
2012 (4A)—Wood River (boys, 5th state title) and Century (girls, 1st state title)
2011 (4A)—Hillcrest (boys, 6th state title) and Bonneville (girls, 2nd straight state title)
2010 (4A)—Wood River (boys, 4th state title) and Bonneville (1st state title)
2009 (4A)—Hillcrest (boys) and Hillcrest (girls, 4th and 5th state titles)
2008 (4A)—Hillcrest (boys) and Hillcrest (girls, 2nd and 3rd state titles)
2007 (4A)—Bishop Kelly (17th state title)
2006 (4A)—Bishop Kelly (16th state title) and Hillcrest
2005 (4A)—Bishop Kelly (15th state title)
2004 (4A)—Bishop Kelly
2003 (4A)—Vallivue. 2002 (4A)—Vallivue. 2001 (4A)—Bishop Kelly.
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.
State team titles (big and small schools, since 1963)—Bishop Kelly 17, Capital 16, Parma 13, Borah 10, Centennial 8, Community School 8, Boise 8, Jerome 6, Hillcrest 6, Wood River 5, Vallivue 3, Meridian 3, Idaho Falls 3, Homedale 2, Payette 2, Bonneville 2, Century 2, Gooding 1, Nampa 1, Twin Falls 1, Skyview 1.
This was the 38th year Wood River was represented at state.
State titlists (20—4 S, 16 D):
2013 (4A)—Margaret Reutter and Haley Cutler, GD
2012 (4A)—Karl Wilander (BS);Raleigh Grossbaum and Charlie Grabow BD
2010 (4A)—Raleigh Grossbaum and Charlie Grabow BD
2008 (4A)—Scott Pike and Morgan Pike BD.
2007 (4A)—Cory Rutkowski and Whitney DeBree MD.
2004—Jackie Safran and Devon Bunce, GD.
2003—Dixon Mooseau and Hadley DeBree MD.
2002—Ashley Lakey and Jessie Woodyard GD.
2001—Casey Werth and Vince Nagashima BD; Ned Flanagan and Aprilia Hagglof MD.
1989 and 1990—John Driscoll BS. 1986—John Jacoby BS.
1986—Marianne Moore and Ann Ferries GD.
1982—Adele Allender and Anise Morrow GD.
1980—Hal Sweasey and Lance Levy BD.
1979—Laura Newcomb and Eric Exline MD.
1979—Jonathan Angle and Kelly Coles BD.
1978—Jonathan Angle and Buddy Levy BD.
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Boys singles (16 players)
Final results
1—Josh Goodwin (Century senior, 2010 BS champion, 2011 BS champion, 3rd BS 2012)
2—Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior, 4th BS 2011, 2nd BS 2012)
3—Elliott Klein (Bishop Kelly freshman)
4—Cache Wood (Middleton junior)
Summary: WR 1-2 match record, 2 points BS
Championship—Josh Goodwin (Century senior) 6-2, 6-3 over Dallas Hunt (Twin Falls senior)
Third place—Elliott Klein (Bishop Kelly freshman) 6-1, 6-1 over Cache Wood (Middleton junior)
Local players
Stephen Pfeiffer (1-2, junior)
Won 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 over Brandon Calley (Kuna freshman)
Lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Hunter Levy (Moscow senior)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Angel Anguiano (Burley senior)
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Girls singles (16 players)
Final results
1—Jennifer Perkins (Caldwell senior, 3rd GS 2012)
2—Nacha Narumikluna (Bonneville junior, Thailand exchange student)
3—Amy Agenbroad (Skyview junior)
4—Eva Mollik (Minico senior)
Summary: WR 2-2 match record, 2 points GS
Championship—Jennifer Perkins (Caldwell senior) 6-1, 6-3 over Nacha Narumikluna (Bonneville junior, Thailand exchange student)
Third place—Amy Agenbroad (Skyview junior) 6-4, 6-1 over Eva Mollik (Minico senior)
Local players
Lily Richards (2-2, senior)
Lost 6-3, 6-1 to Kassie Tuttle (Nampa sophomore)
Won 6-3, 6-4 over Hailey Orton (Twin Falls junior)
Won 6-0, 6-4 over Ellen Postell (Moscow freshman)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Becca Perry (Kuna junior)
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Boys doubles (16 teams)
Final results
1—Parker Albertson-Brandon Nguyen (Columbia seniors, 2nd BD 2012)
2—Tanner Norton-Jacob Harris (Blackfoot juniors)
3—Caleb Hughes-Nick Hughes (Nampa senior, sophomore)
4—Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (Wood River seniors)
Summary: WR 4-4 match record, 10 points BD
Championship—Parker Albertson-Brandon Nguyen (Columbia seniors) 6-4, 6-4 over Tanner Norton-Jacob Harris (Blackfoot juniors)
Third place—Caleb Hughes-Nick Hughes (Nampa senior, sophomore) 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 over Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (Wood River seniors)
Local players
Cole Caminiti-Josh Morell (3-2, seniors)
Won 6-4, 6-1 over Curtis Willis-Austin Jones (Bonneville seniors)
Won 6-3, 6-2 over Micah Buckmiller-Alex Hon (Sandpoint junior, senior)
Lost 6-2, 6-2 to Tanner Norton-Jacob Harris (Blackfoot juniors)
Won 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 over Joey Harrison-Nick Tobe (Bishop Kelly juniors)
Lost 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 to Caleb Hughes-Nick Hughes (Nampa senior, sophomore)—4th place
Erik Wilander-Danny Graves (1-2, sophomore, freshman)
Lost 6-2, 6-0 to Parker Albertson-Brandon Nguyen (Columbia seniors)
Won 7-4, 4-6, 7-6 over Cade Sutton-Harrison Cleveland (Century sophomores)
Lost 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 to Micah Buckmiller-Alex Hon (Sandpoint junior, senior)
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Girls doubles (16 teams)
Final results
1—Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (Wood River senior, sophomore)
2—Olivia Wathne-Ella Wathne (Century senior, freshman)
3—Brittney Washburn-Lindsey Washburn (Skyview seniors, 3rd GD 2011, 2nd GD 2012)
4—Kendall Armstrong-Bylee Gorder (Blackfoot senior, freshman)
Summary: WR 5-2 match record, 22 points GD
Championship—Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (Wood River senior, sophomore) 6-3, 6-4 over
Olivia Wathne-Ella Wathne (Century senior, freshman)
Third place—Brittney Washburn-Lindsey Washburn (Skyview seniors) 7-6, 6-2 over Kendall Armstrong-Bylee Gorder (Blackfoot senior, freshman)
Local players
Margaret Reutter-Haley Cutler (4-0, senior, sophomore)
Won 6-7, 6-0, 6-1 over Natalie Hickman-Becca Fitz (Bishop Kelly seniors)
Won 6-3, 6-2 over Rochelle Sever-Kaycee Coburn (Skyview seniors)
Won 6-1, 6-3 over Lauren McKinnon-Haley Hilton (Caldwell juniors)
Won 6-3, 6-4 over Olivia Wathne-Ella Wathne (Century senior, freshman)—championship
Alex Taylor-Samantha Taylor (1-2, junior, freshman)
Won 6-2, 6-4 over Tessa Pachner-Emma Wenger (Mountain Home seniors)
Lost 6-2, 6-2 to Brittney Washburn-Lindsey Washburn (Skyview seniors)
Lost 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 to Kendall Armstrong-Bylee Gorder (Blackfoot senior, freshman)
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Mixed doubles (16 teams)
Final results
1—Tyler Cannon-Meg Matsuura (Blackfoot seniors)
2—Nate Kleist-Sydney McRoberts (Century freshman, sophomore)
3—Josh Bosen-Christin Dobbs (Nampa senior, junior)
4—Sean Harker-Hailey Clayton (Bonneville)
Summary: WR 0-2 match record, 0 points MD
Championship—Tyler Cannon-Meg Matsuura (Blackfoot seniors) 6-3, 6-2 over
Nate Kleist-Sydney McRoberts (Century freshman, sophomore)
Third place—Josh Bosen-Christin Dobbs (Nampa senior, junior) 6-2, 6-2 over
Sean Harker-Hailey Clayton (Bonneville)
Local players
Taylor Cooper-Tate Morell (0-2, sophomores)
Lost 6-1, 6-2 to Vincent Ta-Lyndsay Watkins (Bishop Kelly junior, sophomore)
Lost 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 to Ben Hong-Brandi Bird (Blackfoot seniors)