Hardy leads Bulldogs in strong IEL showing

SPOKANE — After falling in the first round at No. 1 boys singles, Sandpoint’s Ben Hardy rallied to win five consecutive matches en route to a 7th place finish at the highly-competitive Inland Empire Tennis Championships in Spokane over the weekend.

Hardy reeled off five straight wins against some salty competition amid difficult circumstances, where rain delays were constant.

“He played really, really well,” described Sandpoint coach Kent Anderson of Hardy. “He won a lot of matches at first singles and that’s tough with 47 schools.”

Everyone Bulldog player won a match, no small accomplishment in a tournament featuring some of the top teams in Idaho, Washington and Montana, and the experience should serve them well heading into districts and state.

Piper Wahlin and Mikka Nostdahl destroyed their first round opponent before falling to the No. 3 seeds in mixed doubles.

“They’re right up there with the best 5A teams in the state,” said Anderson, who thinks the duo can contend for a 4A state title. “They’re right there.”

Steven Gavin and Drew Buckmiller lost in the first round at No. 1 doubles, before bouncing back to win three consecutive matches in consolation on Friday. Three of the matches went to a third set, as the tall team played a whopping 11 sets of tennis on a busy day.

“They beat Lake City in a third set tie-breaker again,” said Anderson of Gavin and Buckmiller, who stand 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-2, respectively. “They’re both coming to the net well, and with their height that’s mandatory. They’re tough to lob.”

Sandpoint is at Post Falls today.