Wampus Cats win district tennis title
CLARK FORK — The Wampus Cat tennis team reclaimed what has become rightfully theirs — winning the 3A District 1 and 2 tennis championships Saturday in Pullman, Washington.
The win marks the fifth time in six years that the 1A Cats have have been crowned district champions, despite being much smaller than their chief competition — Grangeville, Coeur d’Alene Charter, Culdesac, Troy and Deary.
“They were thrilled,” said Cats coach Mary Jo Lambert of the championship, after her team finished second last season. “I thought it could happen if we were lucky, and it did.”
Shaina Gustafson and Chelsea Macumber beat teammates Amy Gannon and Britty Yates 6-0, 6-2 in the girls doubles final, claiming the Cats’ only championship and taking another step on their quest for a state title.
“It’s been their goal all year and every day they are on it,” said Lambert of the juniors. “It’s a very real goal.”
All told, 10 Wampus Cats earned state berths as the top four placers in each bracket qualified for state. Along with the two doubles teams, Kandice Daniels finished fourth in girls singles, losing 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) to Grangeville in the 3rd-4th place match.
“Kandice played her heart out,” said Lambert of her junior. “She was a fighter this weekend, playing smart and heady tennis.”
Stillman Berkley and Claire McMahon lost 6-1, 6-3 to Grangeville in the mixed doubles final, and Nate Besbitt and Celeste Komanec beat Deary 6-0, 6-2 for a third place finish. Along with Steffen Kirchgeorg, who lost 6-1, 6-1 to Grangeville in the boys singles final, the Cats will take three boys to state.
With a change in the rules this year, separating the boys and girls teams at state and splitting up the mixed doubles points, Lambert feels her seven girls are strong enough to make plenty of noise, despite being one of the smallest schools competing.
“I think we can on the girls side,” she said. “If mixed doubles can score at state and Brittny and Amy can win a couple, we have a good chance at placing.”
The 3A state tournament is next Friday and Saturday at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.