Wampus Cats geared up for district tennis tournament

CLARK FORK — Heather Wold and Lyndsie Kiebert earned the No. 1 seed in girls doubles for Clark Fork, which is competing for state berths at the district tournament today and tomorrow in Moscow.

Wold and Kiebert beat Grangeville 6-0, 6-2 and then downed Deary 8-2 at a recent meet in Lewiston to earn the top seed. The doubles team has designs on not just winning districts, but making some noise at state if all goes well.

The Wampus Cats also boast a strong mixed doubles team in Jake Aguirre and Annie Wurm, who teamed up to down Clearwater Valley 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 and Grangeville 6-1, 6-1 to also earn the No. 1 seed at districts.

“Jake and Annie have really turned it up,” said Wampus Cat head coach Jeff Emmer of the seeding matches in Lewiston. “The whole team played their best tennis of the year. Even though some of the players didn’t come up with a lot of wins, they played really well against more experienced teams.”

James Cope and Niko Icardo beat Grangeville 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in a match that lasted more than two hours, earning the pair the No. 5 seed in the boys doubles draw.

Leslie Kiebert lost in straight sets to Clearwater Valley, then lost 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 in girls singles, and Ornella Cala and Audrey Young lost 8-5 and 8-3 to Grangeville and Deary to round out the Wampus Cats in action.

The top four placers in each event at districts will advance to state.