CUT BANK — Polson has come out of the gate strong with a 15-1 start to the season by both the boys and girls tennis teams. They got their closest experience to the divisional and state tournaments last weekend at the Cut Bank Invitational.

CUT BANK — Polson has come out of the gate strong with a 15-1 start to the season by both the boys and girls tennis teams. They got their closest experience to the divisional and state tournaments last weekend at the Cut Bank Invitational.

Combined with the match against C-Falls on Thursday, the Pirates and Lady Pirates had three straight days of tennis and played teams they were unfamiliar with. They did all of this while staying in a motel. The result was a 3-1 record by the boys and a 4-0 mark by the girls.

“At Cut Bank, you get a chance to use the eastern teams you face as a gauage,” Polson head coach Bob Hislop said. “You see how they do against the other teams in the east and then you can compare your team. The weekend was nice because with Columbia Falls, we had the kids play five matches. It’s nice to find out who grinds it out and does well while sleeping in motels.”

GIRLS

The Lady Pirates improved their record to 8-0 on the season and several different players went undefeated through three days of tennis.

Against Columbia Falls on Thursday, Polson made the clean 7-0 sweep of their conference rival. After winning three singles matches and getting a fourth by forfeit, the doubles teams followed that up by losing just one game in three matches against the Wildkats.

At Cut Bank, Whitney Zimmerman and Sara Robinson went undefeated in singles action. Doubles teams Audra Engebretson and Karmen Borchers were perfect as were Kenzie Clay and Mollybeth Hendrix.

Polson defeated Hardin 5-2, and swept Havre and Lewistown 7-0 on Friday. They followed that up by defeating host Cut Bank 5-2 on Saturday. Hislop changed up the lineup in the Hardin match and Polson basketball sharpshooter Jordan Quinn didn’t miss against No. 1 singles player Danielle Anderson. Quinn won 8-2. Karly Rochin and Mollybeth Hendrix, who normally play doubles, won their singles matches as well.

Zimmerman and Robinson joined forces and played No. 1 doubles, winning 8-2. Fellow singles players Tegan Bauer and Kylee Wegner also teamed up and won their doubles match, 8-0.

“We switched it up and nobody blinked,” Hislop said of his squad’s response to the change in the lineup.

BOYS

The Polson girls’ team isn’t the only team starting strong as the boys have posted an impressive 7-1 record and have matched up eye-to-eye against solid tennis squads.

Against Columbia Falls on Thursday, Brady Hislop picked up an impressive win after battling No. 1 Wildcat singles player Miroslav Zvyagelskiy.

After winning the first set 7-6 thanks to a 7-5 tiebreaker, Hislop finished off Zvyagelskiy with a 6-4 second set.

Dylan McCrumb, Hayden Congdon and Reed Hovenkotter were also victorious in singles play.

In doubles action, Tommy Mercer and Sam Kinzle won at the No. 2 slot while Jared Gallatin and Jon Murphy picked up the victory at No. 3.

At the Cut Bank Invitational, Polson posted a 3-1 record with their lone blemish being a close 4-3 setback again Hardin, last year’s third-place finisher at state.

“Hardin was a real nice team,” Hislop said. “They had seven seniors on the team.”

The Pirates had plenty of bright spots despite missing four different players because of a music festival. McCrumb, Peel and Congdon didn’t lose in both singles and doubles play.

With a changed-up lineup against Lewistown, Polson won 5-2 to start the invite off. While he normally plays No. 1 doubles, Will Davey didn’t back down from Lewistown’s No. 1 singles player Jordan Snapp and defeated him 8-7. His doubles teammate, Ian Laimbeer, picked up the No. 2 singles victory and Hayden Congdon won at No. 3.

In doubles action, Hislop and McCrumb teamed up to defeat Lewiston’s No. 1 team of Hooper Armour and Bryce Petersen 8-2. Peel and Hovenkotter won as the No. 2 team.

Polson followed it up with a 4-3 victory over Havre before falling to Hardin 4-3 to finish out Friday. On Saturday, the Pirates notched a 4-3 win over host Cut Bank.

COMING UP

Polson will have another busy week, hosting four different teams and two different conference opponents. On Friday, the Lady Pirates and Pirates will play Whitefish and should get a challenge from the boys’ squad.

“They have a deep, deep team,” Hislop said. “We’ve been dominating other teams at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots so this will be a test.”

Polson will follow that up with a match against Bigfork. Then on Saturday they’ll host Dillon.

Last Tuesday, the Pirates and Lady Pirates battled a tough Hamilton squad but results were not available before press time. The Hamilton girls were third and the boys were second at state last season.

THIS WEEK IN POLSON TENNIS

POLSON VS. COLUMBIA FALLS

Polson 6, Columbia Falls 1

Singles — Brady Hislop, P, def. Miroslav Zvyagelskiy, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Dylan McCrumb, P, def. Andrew West, 6-2, 6-2; Hayden Congdon, P, def. Josh Potter, 6-1, 6-2; Reed Hovenkotter, P, def. Caleb Baumann, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles — Parker Johnson/Brian Marcille, CF, def. Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer, 3-6, 6-3, 76 (10-8); Tommy Mercer/Sam Kinzle, P, def. Nathan Gedlaman/Wyatt Wollenzien, 6-3, 6-4; Jared Gallatin/Jon Murphy, P, def. Baily Griffith/Logan Carr, 6-2, 6-3.

Polson 7, Columbia Falls 0

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman, P, def. Gabrielle Stenger, 6-3, 6-2; Sara Robinson, P, def. Natalie Law, by forfeit; Kylee Wegner, P, def. Emma Covill, 6-2, 6-4; Lauren Dupuis, P, def. Hailey Sapa, 6-2, 6-2.

Doubles — Jordan Quinn/Karly Rochin, P, def. Mckenna Emmerich/McCinze Christopherson, 6-0, 6-0; Kenzie Clay/Mollybeth Hendrix, P, def. Maggee Panasuck/Gabby Keller, 6-0, 6-0; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers, P, def. Courtney Seward/Kiera Kamrud 6-1, 6-0.

CUT BANK INVITATIONAL

BOYS

Polson 4, Havre 3

Singles — Brady Hislop (P) def. Justin Jensen, 8-7 (2); Dylan McCrumb (P) def. Brayden Grimson, 8-4; Ned Malone (H) def. Reed Hovenkotter, 8-4; Bill Wagner (H) def. Jared Gallatin, 8-1

Doubles – Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer (P) def. Blaine Grisak/Simon McCann, 8-2; Hayden Congdon/Sam Peel (P) def. Nick Rhines/Zach Hellegaard, 8-2; J.J. Hovet/Brian Smith (H) def. Sher Tehmasup/Isak Peterson, 8-3.

Hardin 4, Polson 3

Singles — Rusty Burcschia (H) def. Brady Hislop, 8-4; Dylan McCrumb (P) def. Hans Hill, 8-7 (7-4); Reed Hovenkotter (P) def. Chandler Metcalf, 8-7 (7-4); John Lemmon (H) def. Isak Peterson, 8-0.

Doubles — Ty Alberts/Lane Baumann (H) def. Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer, 8-6; Hayden Congdon/Sam Peel (P) def. Niles Greer/Ivan Mendoza, 8-7 (7-5); Tanner Robertson/Nate Lyman (H) def. Jared Gallatin/Sher Tehmasup, 8-1.

Polson 5, Lewistown 2

Singles — Will Davey (P) def. Jordan Snapp, 8-7 (2); Ian Laimbeer (P) def. Andrew Bruno, 8-2; Hayden Congdon (P) def. Zach Hould, 8-0; Kyle Myhre (F) def. Sher Tehmasup, 8-5.

Doubles — Brady Hislop/Dylan McCrumb (P) def. Hooper Armour/Bryce Petersen, 8-2; Sam Peel/Reed Hovenkotter (P) def. Andy Butcher/Austin Songer, 8-1; Preston Kynett/Alex Irish (F) def. Jared Gallatin/Isak Peterson, 8-0.

Polson 4, Cut Bank 3

Singles — Isaac Matt (CB) def. Brady Hislop, 8-4; Dylan McCrumb (P) def. Robert Jennings, 8-1; Sam Peel (P) def. Spencer Czech, 8-4; Che’ Little Dog (CB) def. Sher Tehmasup, 8-6.

Doubles — Will Davey/Ian Laimbeer (P) def. Jerry Pitman/Josh Kloos, 8-3; Reed Hovenkotter/Hayden Congdon (P) def. Josh Biegler/Daniel Fugle, 8-1; Cody Popelka/Shane Beuerman (CB) def. Jared Gallatin/Isak Peterson, 8-2.

GIRLS

Polson 5, Hardin 2

Singles — Jordan Quinn (P) def. Danielle Anderson 8-2; Carrie Old Coyote (H) def. Karmen Borchers, 8-6; Karly Rochin (P) def. Chryssie Weibert, 8-3; Mollybeth Hendrix (P) def. CiCi Tree Irons, 1-0.

Doubles — Whitney Zimmerman/Sara Robinson (P), def. Snowy Johnson/Alica Cai, 8-2; Katie McCleary/Hannah Ware (H), def. Kenzie Clay/Audra Engebretson, 8-3; Tegan Bauer/Kylee Wegner (P) def. Savannah Green/Cardeli, 8-0.

Polson 7, Havre 0

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman (P) def. Lainey Chagnon, 8-1; Sara Robinson (P) def. Brandy Lambourne, 8-6; Tegan Bauer (P) def. Shannon Herring, 8-4; Kylee Wegner (P) def. Tatianna Ralph, 8-2.

Doubles – Kenzie Clay/Mollybeth Hendrix (P) def. Jenn Cichosz/Jade McCormick, 8-3; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers (P) def. Ellery Bresler/Breck Don, 8-1; Jordan Quinn/Karly Rochin (P) def. Haley Graham/Morgan Jappe, 8-2.

Polson 7, Lewistown 0

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman (P) def. Ellen Harmon, 8-2; Sara Robinson (P) def. Hannah Thomas, 8-1; Tegan Bauer (P) def. Carlee Ward, 8-3; Lauren Dupuis (P) def. Rita Campano, 8-1.

Doubles — Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers (P) def. Jennifer Monger/Audrea Nielsen, 8-2; Jordan Quinn/ Karly Rochin (P) def. Kaitlyn Kindzerski/Marlee Thomas, 8-4; Kenzie Clay/Mollybeth Hendrix (P) def. Brianna Petersen/Beth Olson, 8-0.

Polson 5, Cut Bank 2

Singles — Whitney Zimmerman (P) def. Paige Larson, 8-1; Sara Robinson (P) def. Kodi Hoffman, 8-7 (5); Tegan Bauer (P) def. Donelle Novak, 8-1; Allie Anderson (CB) def. Lauren Dupuis, 8-6.

Doubles — Jillian Altenburg/Kayla Kraft (CB) def. Jordan Quinn/Karly Rochin, 8-5; Kenzie Clay/Mollybeth Hendrix (P) def. Alex Kraft/Duana Gobert, 8-2; Audra Engebretson/Karmen Borchers (P) def. Paige Johnston/ Alex Schilling, 8-1.