Senior-laden Bulldogs primed for big tennis season
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Pictured front row, from left right: Laney Search, Liz Parsley and Khloe Kyllonen. Back row: James Wolfe, Reilly Wolfe, Qamron Leonard, Jacob Jackson, Patrick Rockwell, Andre Kemink, Logan Temple, Charlie Crane and Koen Conner.
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Olivia Ramirez serves during an outdoor practice on Tuesday at Travers Park. The snow is finally gone, but the courts were still wet, but not enough to deter the Bulldogs.
Patrick Rockwell
Laney Search
Search, Kyllonen gunning for state doubles title
By ERIC PLUMMER
Sports editor
SANDPOINT — A senior-laden team with tons of state tournament experience will take the court for the Bulldog tennis team in 2017, as the program continues to rank among the best in North Idaho.
Seniors Laney Search and Khloe Kyllonen will team up in doubles to make a run at a 4A state title, and they have the chops to make it happen.
Search, who finished second at state two years ago, is one of the top players in the 4A ranks. With Kyllonen’s strong defense, and Search’s ability to end points out of the air, the duo has its sights set on a doubles title.
“Laney is really hitting it. She’s probably one of the top five players in the state,” said Bulldog head coach Kent Anderson. “Khloe is one of our most consistent hitters and matches up well with Laney. I think they’re going to win it, I really do. They’d love to win a doubles title.”
Allura Livingston and senior Liz Parsley will be battling for the No. 1 singles spot this year, and both bring a lot of tools to the court.
“Liz is one of our hardest hitters, and with the addition of her topspin forehand this year, will be very tough to beat in singles,” described Anderson. “She and Allura will be fighting for the top singles position this year. Allura is a relentless fighter on the court and has a great winning attitude.”
Rounding out a solid girls team is the versatile Alana Seifert, doubles specialists April Clark and Amy Clark, and Tessa Beeman and Jenny Slaveck.
Leading the boys team will be a pair of strong seniors in Jacob Jackson and Patrick Rockwell, two players with the chops to get to state. Rockwell has some big offensive tools, while Jackson uses a mix of mobility and power.
“They’re going to shock people with their massive serves. It’s really fun to watch,” predicted Anderson. “Patrick and Jacob will be battling for the No. 1 position on the team.”
Senior Logan Temple would also be vying for one of the top spots, but is injured, and senior Reilly Wolfe brings a ton of varsity experience to the lineup.
Behind them is a host of players that will round out a deep varsity lineup in seniors Koen Connor, Charlie Crane and Juan Dorado, and sophomore Declan Plummer. Anderson was asked what the strength of the boys team was.
“Our depth. Our top 10 players are always deep,” he said. “We can throw anyone in there and do well.”
Much of the early season has been rained out, which puts Sandpoint behind other teams around the state. But when everything finally start to click, Rockwell feels the team will be a handful to deal with.
“We have a lot of experience, a lot of seniors,” said the senior, who boasts a big serve and top-spin forehand. “I think we’ll beat a lot of the teams that we play.”
Sandpoint is at Lewiston on Saturday in their season opener.