Bulldogs dominate at district tennis

MOSCOW — It was a banner day for Sandpoint as they dominated much of the play in the opening round of the 4A District 1 tennis championships.

The No. 2 mixed doubles team of Jess Lindenberg and Adam Durfee pulled off the biggest upset, smoking Moscow's No. 1 team 6-3, 6-1, made all the more impressive by the fact that Moscow put their top boys player into mixed doubles for Districts. They'll face teammates Jesse Petty and Victoria Johnson, who won both of their matches, in the finals today.

The boys doubles teams were equally dominant, as Dusty Aunan and Matt Lindenberg won both their matches and will face teammates Justin Zirwes and Ryan Williams, who also went 2-0, in the finals today.

Del Armstrong won both his singles matches, and Cody Helander also made the finals in girls singles, bringing the total number of Bulldogs in the finals to 12.

"Right now we have the opportunity to take 12 kids to state, we've set ourselves up well," said head coach Jane Rockwell, who thinks they have a chance to take even more if all goes well today. "I'm proud of the kids. They came down here and stepped up to the plate and really played well."

The second day of Districts can be a grind, as tired legs yield to guts and tension as state berths are on the line. Play starts at 11 a.m.

BOYS

SINGLES — First round, Del Armstrong, (Spt #1), d. Jennings (Mos #3) 6-0, 6-1. Patrick Orton (Spt #2) bye. Dilles (Mos #2), d. Brock Wahlin (Spt #3) 6-2, 6-0. Second round, Armstrong d. Miller (Mos #1) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4). Dilles d. Orton 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Orton d. Wahlin 6-2, 6-2.

DOUBLES — First round, Dusty Aunan-Matt Lindenberg (Spt #1) d. Mueller-Davis (PF #2) 6-0, 6-2. Justin Zirwes-Matt Lindenberg (Spt #2) d. Smith-Allen (Mos #2) 6-3, 6-2. Second round, Aunan-Lindenberg d. Stinson-Macy (Mos #2) 6-3, 6-2. Zirwes-Williams d. Horton-Walker (PF #1) 7-5, 6-4.

MIXED DOUBLES — First round, Jesse Petty-Victoria Johnson (Spt #1) d. Lopez-Lindhe (Mos#2) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Jess Lindenberg-Adam Durfee (Spt #2) bye. Second round, Petty-Johnson d. Stewart-Ekberg (PF #1) 6-4, 6-3. Lindenberg-Durfee d. Merineaux-Kwaitkokoski (Mos #1) 6-3, 6-1.

GIRLS

SINGLES — First round, Cody Helander (Spt #1) bye. Callie Fiedler (Spt #2) d. Cane (PF #2) 6-3, 6-4. Johnson (Mos #2) d. Kimi Banning (Spt #3) 6-1, 6-1. Second round, Helander d. Johnson 6-1, 6-2. Dinning (PF #1) d. Fiedler 6-0, 6-1. Roeder (Mos #3) d. Banning 6-1, 6-2.

DOUBLES — First round, Abby Helander-Jessie Novak (Spt #1) bye. Lopez-Hattenberg (Mos #1) d. Andrea Neece-Meggie Cafferty (Spt #2) 6-3, 6-2. Second round, Helander-Novak d. Dixon-Geotis (PF #2) 6-1, 6-2.