Amidst a busy week, Clark Fork tennis excited to play against CDA's JV
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Clark Fork senior Lily Simko hits a forehand in her singles match on April 25.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Madison Williams sizes up the ball during a match against Coeur d’Alene High School’s junior varsity tennis team on April 25.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Clark Fork junior Ellie Kiebert returns serve during a singles match against Coeur d’Alene High School’s junior varsity tennis team on Thursday, April 25.
Three games in three days is a tough ask for any high school sport, yet the Clark Fork tennis team joyfully took advantage of another opportunity to compete against Coeur d’Alene’s JV tennis team on Thursday.
“At this point in the year — especially in this busy week — it’s really fun to see how much the players will improve from now until districts,” Clark Fork tennis head coach Jeff Emmer said. “They just look forward to play every day. We just play so few matches, so the turnaround isn’t anything for them.”
In this season so far, the Wampus Cats have had limited court time due to weather, cancellations and the fact that Clark Fork plays all its matches on the road. The team kicked off the week with a close drive over to Sandpoint to play the Bulldogs’ JV team on Tuesday, made the 90-minute drive down to Coeur d’Alene on Thursday, then will make the trek out to Spokane for the Inland Empire Tournament today.
Speaking of busy, Lily Simko had the busiest day out of all her teammates. The senior went to a three-set tiebreaker in her No. 1 girls singles match, then followed that up with a three-set tiebreaker in a doubles match, played with junior Ellie Kiebert. Despite being a first-year tennis player, Kiebert’s progression has been a welcome addition to the team this year.
“Every match she plays, you really see her level rise,” Emmer said. “It’s to be expected; we knew when she started that she was going to be a fast learner.”
As Clark Fork’s two best tennis players, Simko and Kiebert were predictably adept doubles partners. Simko was everywhere at the net: Her lateral speed and ability to reset after every volley stymied her opponents. Yet the Lady Cat tandem lost the tiebreaker, 7-5.
Clark Fork will be one of more than 50 teams competing in the Inland Empire Tournament, held at several locations in the Spokane area. Day one of the two-day event starts today at 9 a.m.
Clark Fork athletes in bold
GIRLS SINGLES: No. 1. Amy Corette d. Lily Simko, 4-3 (12-10), 4-1. No. 2 Marriah Piazza d. Ellie Kiebert, 4-0, 4-2. No. 3 Ashley Murphy d. Madison Williams, 6-4.
GIRLS DOUBLES: Emma Wery/JoAnna Hoover d. Lily Simko/Ellie Kiebert, 1-4, 4-0 (7-5). Olivia Haakenson/Kaylee Kirst d. Ashley Brown/Madison Williams, 4-0, 4-1. Ashley Murphy/Ella Wilson d. Riley Engelhart/Alena Perez, 4-1, 4-0. Bailey Ellingsen/Shelby Gray d. Riley Engelhart/Alena Perez, 4-2, 4-0. Rachel Dick/Ashley Brown d. Addy Curtis/Lilian Smith, 4-3, 4-3.
BOYS SINGLES: No. 1 Evan Brown d. Eli Engelhart, 6-2. No. 2 Jayden Johnson d. Wesley Simko, 6-0. No. 3 Zach Lara d. Blaine Williams, 6-3.
BOYS DOUBLES: Jonathan Perkins/Mark Priebe d. Eli Engelhart/Mathis Heisel, 6-2. Zach Lara/Braden Ethington d. Blaine Williams/Kobi Dooley, 6-1. Thomas Kladar/Brighton Spencer d. Wesley Simko/Niko Holborn, 6-4. Blaine Williams/Wesley Simko d. Nick dePoto/Bryan Frantz, 6-1. Matt Mitchell/James French d. Mathis Heisel/Kobi Dooley, 6-5.