Wampus Cats notch impressive wins at Inland Empire meet

SPOKANE — Nate Nesbitt and Stillman Berkley notched solid wins over Lake City and Rogers at No. 2 boys doubles, and Shaina Gustafson and Chelsea Macumber notched two wins before falling to the eventual champions at No. 1 girls doubles to lead a strong showing by Clark Fork this weekend at the Inland Empire Tennis Championships in Spokane.

The 1A Wampus Cats were competing against schools with student bodies three and four times the entire population of Clark Fork, and more than held their own. Head coach Mary Jo Lambert had high praise for Berkley and Nesbitt, who fell to Riverside in the first round before making some noise in the consolation bracket. Because of an obscure 15 hour bus rule, the doubles team was unable to play their final consolation match.

“They were really upset,” explained Lambert, noting the buses can’t be gone more than 15 hours from the time they leave the school. “They play three sports and they’re so darn athletic, it just boils down to experience.” 

Macumber and Gustafson rolled to straight set wins over Freeman and Colville, before falling 6-0, 6-4 to the eventual champion Helgate team.

“They were up 4-1 in the second set,” said Lambert of her reigning state champion doubles team. “It was the best I’ve seen them play in three years. We just don’t get that kind of competition.”

Kandice Daniels lost in two sets to West Valley, before rebounding to beat Shadle Park in straight sets, eventually falling to Sandpoint’s Sophia Meulenberg in consolation at No. 1 girls singles. Laura Emmi scored a strong win over Kennewick before falling to Kamiakin to round out the Wampus Cat singles play.

Claire McMahon and Brocklynn Thornton teamed up to beat Riverside in straight sets at No. 2 girls doubles, before falling in a tight two-setter to Kamiakin. Victor Walker and Tala Fehsel lost 6-3, 6-3 to Cheney, and Celeste Komanec and Nate Christensen lost 6-2, 6-1 to Gonzaga Prep, before falling in a tight match to Cheney in mixed doubles.

Lambert is excited about her team’s chances at the upcoming district meet, especially after gaining valuable experience against much bigger schools.

“We should wipe out districts again,” she said, noting a state trophy is within reach. “I think I can get everybody to state.”

The Cats scrimmage Sandpoint on Friday, at 3 p.m. at Travers Park.