Bulldogs dominate on all-league tennis team

SANDPOINT — It’s rare for Sandpoint to have the best team in North Idaho, but it happened this year in tennis, when the Bulldogs dominated the competition, from 5A to 4A, and so it comes as on surprise they dominated the 4A All-Inland Empire League tennis team.

Head coach Kent Anderson was voted Coach of the Year, and has built one of the consistently best programs in North Idaho. All 12 of the players he took to state not only won matches, but showed the North is no longer an also ran in the state tennis scene.

“Based on the All-Conference selections, Sandpoint had an All-Star team this year. I warned everyone at last year’s banquet that 2016 would be a pretty special year and the kids did not disappoint,” said Anderson. “Right from the start of the season in February, I was impressed with our depth. Our drills were intense from top to bottom which only helped in the development of all our players.”

Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen were voted co-girls players of the year after a strong season at No. 1 doubles. Anderson was happy to see his seniors end the season on a high note.

“All season long they were hard working and dedicated and it shows in the respect the league coaches have given them. It’s no coincidence that the All-League selections trained indoors all winter at Peak Tennis in our team drills,” he said. “It pays off. I couldn’t be more proud. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but the 2017 team looks scary, in a good way.”

The Bulldogs won a host of matches on the first day at state. Seach and Kyllonen lost a pair of tough three set matches, and will return as one of the teams to beat at state next year. Vi Plummer and Caroline Suppiger were tied 5-5 in the second set against the team from Bishop Kelly that finished second, and lost a 10-7 third set tie-breaker to the team that finished fourth, proving they were right in the mix for a trophy as well.

“We dominated day one at state. Day two was tough, but there were no blowouts. We were in a position to win every match,” said Anderson. “That’s why tennis is such a great game, there are no guarantees.”

4A All-Inland Empire League tennis team

Players of the Year — Boys: Ian Wendt, Mos. Girls: Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen, Spt.

Coach of the Year — Kent Anderson, Spt.

First team boys — Wendt, Mos; Neeraj Utgikar, Mos; Patrick Rockwell, Spt; Matthew Curtiss, Spt.

Second team boys — Logan Temple, Michael Favor, Jake Aguirre and Reilly Wolfe, all Spt.

First team girls — Ellen Postell, Mos; Victoria Welk, Mos; Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen, Spt.

Second team girls — Cassidy Story, Liz Parsley, Violet Plummer, Caroline Suppiger, Spt.