Tennis tallies wins in Billings, prepares for return home

By Eliza McLaughlin, reporter

April 25, 2023

a8e4bb0ab2c703db682a3a5c61a81992 — Freshman Bailee Silvonen hits a forehand during a match against Poplar at the Red Lodge Invitational Tournament on April 22. (Eliza McLaughlin/The Monitor).

Jefferson High School tennis found a break in the weather last week and didn’t waste any time hitting the court for a slew of matches in Anaconda and Billings.

Tuesday, April 18 was meant to open in Missoula, but a spring storm left the courts too slick for play. After some impromptu planning, four players loaded up in the school suburban and set out for Anaconda.

First to hit the court were the Panthers’ boys’ doubles team, freshmen Izaak Luhrsen and Cole Christoferson, versus Anaconda’s Cobey Strommen and Rain Lofing followed by a match with Logan Smith and Aiden James. The duo lost 2-8 in the first match and 0-8 in the second.