Tiger tennis team falls at district

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

There will be no Mountain Home tennis players at state, but that does not mean the Tigers did not put up a good fight at Vallivue and Caldwell last week at the District III 4A Tennis Tournament.

The district tennis tourney consisted of five separate tournaments -- boys singles, girls singles, boys doubles, girls singles and mixed doubles -- with seeding in the tournament based on the players' won-loss record the last half of the conference season.

In the boys singles tourney, Jordan Niksich went in as the number six seed, and had a first-round bye. He dropped a tough three-set match to Kade Hubbard of Skyview, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6. He then faced Nampa's Sory Kalvelage and lost, 2-6, 1-6.

Joshua Lewis lost to Emmett's Kevin Adams, 2-6, 4-6, in the first round, and then was ousted with a 2-6, 1-6 loss to Blake Curtis of Kuna.

Justin Richins opened against Matt Koma of Bishop Kelly and lost, 2-6, 2-6. He then faced Ryan Simpson of Vallivue and lost, 2-6, 0-6.

In the girls singles tourney, Laura Lothrop lost to Cassandra Stamphill of Caldwell, 1-6, 1-6, and was eliminated by losing to Victoria Clark of Emmett.

Norah Fischer won her first-round match due to a default by her opponent, and then dropped a tough three-set match to Megan Bauscher of Vallivue, 6-4, 0-6, 4-6.

She then won her consolation round match against Teresa Cole of Kuna.

Julie Remington had to default her first match due to illness, but was well enough to play the next day and defeated Frankie Walter of Skyview, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. That set up a match between teammates Norah Fischer and Julie Remington, won by Nora, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

"The two girls played some of the best tennis that I have seen them play -- totally focused," said Tiger tennis coach Tamzy House. "I am really sorry that one of them had to lose and be eliminated from the tournament."

Nora Fischer then faced Tami Winston of Nampa in the consolation quarterfinals, and lost a hard-fought match, 4-6, 4-6.

In the boys doubles tourney, Thomas and Andrew Martin opened against top-seeded Nate Toolson and Ian Rasmussen of Nampa, and lost 0-6, 0-6.

"They (the Martin brothers) played good tennis against them, going to a lot of deuce games," said Coach House.

The Martins then faced Emmett's #2 team, and battled them for the first set into a tie-breaker, which Emmett finally won, 13-11. Emmett then won the second set, 6-2, to win the match, and eliminate the Martin brothers.

"What an effort by the Martin brothers," said Coach House of their battle against Emmett.

Jason Ward and Reed Borgholthaus opened against Caldwell's #2 team, and lost, 3-6, 1-6. They then battled Nampa's #2 team, and won a hard-fought 7-5, 6-1 win before being eliminated by Vallivue's #2 team, 1-6, 0-6.

"Tremendous play (against Nampa)," said Coach House of Ward and Borgholthaus' effort against Nampa. "Unfortunately, in their second round match they ran into a buzz saw, the Vallivue #2 team."

In girls doubles play, Breanna White and Daryl Enriquez opened against the number one seed, Kim Clements and Annie Watkins of Bishop Kelly, and lost, but battled back to beat Skyview's #2 team in consolation play, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. They were then eliminated by Vallivue's #1 team, 3-6, 1-6.

Tara Brandenburg and Christina Gutierrez also had a tough first round match, losing to Bishop Kelly's #2 team, 0-6, 4-6. They then faced Nampa's #2 team and lost, 1-6, 1-6.

"They gave it their all," said Coach House.

In mixed doubles, Keenan Galloway and Samantha Martinez opened against the top seed, Bishop Kelly's #1, Kassie Segar and Kyle Balmer, and were blanked in two sets.

"You have to put this one in perspective," said Coach House. "Kassie was part of the Bishop Kelly mixed doubles state champion team last year. It was a great experience match for the Tigers."

Seth Galloway and Annie Bledsoe opened against the number two seed, Vallivue's #1, and were blanked in straight sets.

Both of Mountain Home's mixed doubles teams lost in straight sets to Skyview's's #2 and #1 teams, respectively.

"I was disappointed that none of our players qualified for state," said Coach House, "but not for me, but for them. They all have worked so hard this eason, and have greatly improved. They really wanted to go (to state), it just didn't happen."

Coach House indicated she is already looking forward to the tennis season next year.

"I am excited for next year. We have a solid core of young players who are learning the skills and will keep improving. My assistant coach, Pat McCoy, and I will set up some off-season voluntary training options for the kids this summer and fall to keep improving the skill level of the team. I guess to close out the season, all I can say is, 'Look out Mountain Home! Tiger tennis is starting to rock!"

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