Cope, Icardo punch tickets to state tennis
—Photo by ERIC PLUMMER Clark Fork’s Rose Levy, pictured earlier in the season, beat her Orofino opponent.
—Photo by ERIC PLUMMER Niko Icardo, pictured earlier in the season, and teammate James Cope finished fourth at districts in boy doubles, earning their second straight trip to state.
LEWISTON — James Cope and Niko Icardo are headed back to state, after finishing fourth to lead the Wampus Cats at the 2A Region 1-2 tennis championships last weekend in Lewiston and Clarkston.
Cope and Icardo defeated Coeur d’Alene Charter 6-0 6-4, lost 6-4, 6-2 to the district champions, defeated Charter 6-0 6-0, and then lost to Clearwater Valley in a three-set battle 6-4 1-6 3-6 to take 4th place and punch their ticket to state.
“They were disappointed that they ran out of steam at the end but are happy to be headed back to state,” said Wampus Cats head coach Jeff Emmer. “The caliber of boys doubles players in our league is the highest that I have seen. It will be fun to see what they can do at state.”
The boys doubles team of Jensen Heisel and Hunter Sutton lost to Grangeville and Charter in straight sets, but the first year tennis players gained valuable experience and will be challengers next season.
The girls doubles team of Lilly Simko and Grace Shelton lost to a pair of strong Grangeville teams in straight sets.
“They played their best tennis of the year and had a lot of fun doing it,” described Emmer. “Being only freshman, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.”
Senior Rose Levy lost 6-4, 6-0 to the eventual district champ from Grangeville in girls singles, then beat Orofino 6-2, 6-3 before getting knocked out of the bracket in a straight set loss to Grangeveille.
“Rose really played great. She’s only been playing for two and a half months,” praised Emmer. “It was unfortunate that she had to play all three of her matches on Friday, which was sunny and in the 80s. By her last match she was exhausted but never lost her smile.”
State starts Friday in Boise.