SHS JV tennis team claims district title

COEUR d'ALENE — The Sandpoint junior varsity tennis team won the 5A-4A District 1 Championship on Saturday.

The Bulldogs ran away with the team title, dominating Lake City, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Lakeland and Moscow.

"This was an amazing day of tennis," head coach Kent Anderson wrote in an email. "Sandpoint was definitely firing on all cylinders. "We’ll be graduating eight seniors this year, but this group is ready to jump right in. We don’t rebuild in Sandpoint, we reload."

Kimberlin Wagner claimed the girls singles title while Evan Wiley secured the boys singles title.

"Kimberlin, as expected, dominated the girls tournament," Anderson wrote. "She effortlessly rolled through her opponents with her powerful ground strokes and big serves. She moves well, attacks short balls with a vengeance and plays smart. Every time Kimberlin walked on the court, a crowd of spectators would congregate to watch."

Anderson said Wiley was at the top of his game on Saturday.

"Evan played his best tennis of the season combining consistency and power to control the points and that strategy paid off," Anderson wrote. "He has become patient and calculated as the season has progressed. He is fun to watch."

Elliot Lowman and Caleb Bradshaw also made deep runs in boys singles to give Sandpoint three of the four semifinalists.

Elly Tutin made it to the consolation finals in girls singles to earn a medal and Noah Spinney and Owen Larson fell just short in a hard fought finals match in boys doubles.

"Noah has very smooth strokes and great hand-eye coordination," Anderson wrote. "Combine that with Owen’s athleticism, power and speed, and we have a very tough doubles team."