After a long week of divisional tournaments, Panther Tennis is racing into the final stretch of its season with several players qualifying for the State Class B/C Tournament.
In singles, senior Morgan Knickerbocker entered the tournament as the number two seed and quickly defended her placement. Knickerbocker earned her place in the divisional tournament after beating Red Lodge’s Taylor Schultz, 6-4, 6-0; Three Forks’ Sophie Meskimen, 6-2, 6-4; and Three Forks’ Malia Eriksson, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
In the championship match, Knickerbocker faced the number one seed from Red Lodge, Danika Tucker. Knickerbocker found her fight a little too late in the second set and fell to Tucker, 0-6, 2-6, and qualified for the state tournament.
Next up to claim their spot in the top of the division was Jefferson’s freshman Bailee Silvonen.
Silvonen — the fifth seed in the division — made an early showing beating Red Lodge’s TK Hay, 6-0, 6-1, and Three Forks’ Ali Kotter by medical forfeit. In the semi-finals, Silvonen took on Tucker and lost 1-6, 5-7.
Now on the consolation side of things, Silvonen toppled Broadwater’s Addy Kraft and earned a spot in the match for third and fourth place against Kotter. This time, Silvonen fell to Kotter 4-6, 3-6.
Jefferson’s Lady Panthers also qualified a doubles team for the state tournament, manned by senior Aliza Hays and sophomore Grace Quigley.
Hays and Quigley achieved an early win in the tournament against Red Lodge’s Black and Hartwig, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The duo then fell to Three Forks’ pairing of Deriana and Warden, 0-6, 1-6.
On the consolation side of the bracket, Hays and Quigley faced the other Red Lodge team and tallied another win 6-3, 6-3, which qualified them for the state tournament.
After a loss to Three Forks’ Griffiths and Williams at 6-7 (0-7), 3-6, Hays and Quigley faced Black and Hartwig once again in the match for fifth and sixth place. The duo fell this time 6-3, 2-6, (7-10).
Jefferson’s boys’ tennis team also got in on the divisional action last week, traveling to their respective tournament on Thursday, May 18.
Freshmen Izaak Luhrsen and Cole Christoferson put up a fight in the first round against an Anaconda team, but eventually fell 2-6, 2-6.
In the second round, Luhrsen and Christoferson faced Loyola Sacred Heart’s number one doubles team. Despite falling 1-6, 0-6, Luhrsen and Christoferson continued fighting to the end and left an impression with spectating coaches.
The Lady Panthers will leave for the State B-C Tennis Tournament on Wednesday, May 24 at 3:30 p.m. Supporters are encouraged to help support the team with a send off on Main Street in Boulder at the aforementioned time. Contact Coach Eliza McLaughlin at (406) 579-0522 with any questions or comments.
