Friday — May 7, 2004

Fit to be tied

Local prep tennis teams split

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In the first cross-town showdown of the season, The Community School and Wood River tennis teams played to a 6-6 draw Wednesday.

Dueling on the high school courts in Hailey, Wood River captured every doubles match except for #2 mixed pairs and nabbed #3 girls’ singles behind Ashley Prior’s straight set victory over Coco Knudsen.

"I thought both teams played really hard," Wood River coach John Radford said. "They are two good rivals. I think the kids know each other and enjoy playing each other."

The Cutthroats breezed through the singles ranks, winning all three boys’ matchups and #1 and #2 girls’ singles.

The final match of the day, #2 mixed doubles, swung Ketchum/Sun Valley’s way when J.P. McNeal and Blake Ellis outlasted Kira Gardner and Gavin Kastner 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

"That kept us in there," Sun Valley coach Mark Scribner remarked. "They were down the whole time in the third set – 3-0, then 5-3. But they kept getting the ball back and kept playing the points."

The #1 mixed match also went three sets. Wood River’s Danny Gariepy and Whitney DeBree defeated Christian Cairncross and Mandy Alexander 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Hailey won #1 girls’ doubles with Abby Fairman and Ellie France knocking off McKenzie Hart and Joanie Baumgardner 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The #2 match went to Devon Bunce and Jackie Safran, 6-1, 6-3 over Lily Mott and Jenna Anderson.

Hunter Storey and Estaban Vega teamed to take #1 boys’ doubles 6-3, 6-1 over Ben Roth and Tyler Chandler. The Cutthroats defaulted the #2 match.

The Cutthroats dropped only nine games in five singles victories. Ty Martin, runner-up at state in 2003, defeated Thomas Phelan 6-0, 6-0. Scooter Sabel won his match over Kyle Niedrich by the same score. Wes Flanigan posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over Whit Harbaugh.

Amy Alexander, last year’s district champion, bumped off Hadley DeBree 6-3, 6-0, and it was Caitlin Cairncross over Amanda Smith 6-1, 6-0.

The two teams take another crack at each other, this Monday, May 10, 4 p.m. at Warm Springs Tennis Club.

"The kids are excited to play them again on Monday," Radford said. "They would be excited to play them again tomorrow."

Earlier in the week, the Wolverines dispatched Jerome 10-2. The win marked the second time the Wolverines have defeated the Tigers this season. The meet took place in Hailey Tuesday.

 

Wood River 10, Jerome 2

GS: Hadley DeBree won 6-2, 6-1. Amanda Smith won 6-1, 6-4. Ashley Prior won 6-2, 7-5.

BS: Dao Okamoto won 7-6, 6-3. Thomas Phelan won 6-1, 6-2. Kyle Niedrich won 6-1, 6-2.

GD: Abby Fairman/Ellie France defeated 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. Jackie Safran/Devon Bunce won 7-5, 6-3.

BD: Estaban Vega/Hunter Storey defeated 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Whit Harbaugh/Frank Fiaschetti won 6-3, 6-0.

MD: Whitney DeBree/Danny Gariepy won 6-3, 6-2. Kira Gardner/Gavin Kastner won 6-1, 6-3.

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