7 Bulldogs garner all-league tennis honors

Seven Sandpoint tennis players earned 4A IEL all-league honors for their efforts this spring.

Boys doubles pair Christian Story and Josh Embree, and girls doubles pair Olivia Petruso and Denali Terry were named first team all-league. Mixed doubles pair Tyler McNamee and Kailee McNamee, and girls singles player Neva Reseska received second team honors.

All-league selections were based on results at regionals.

Just a few matches into the season, Embree and Story, the Bulldogs' top two players on the boys side, decided they wanted to team up in doubles. The two players had contrasting styles, and they possessed the chemistry and talent to tear through teams in North Idaho — and they did just that.

The duo had aspirations of contending for a state title, but the chips didn't fall their way down in Boise, head coach Kent Anderson said. Regardless, the senior captains left their mark this spring.

"Having them together was like a sure win throughout the season and there was no question they were going to win districts," Anderson said, "and it's fun to have a team like that where they can just dominate."

Petruso and Terry also claimed a regional title. The duo started the season slow, but they grew stronger with every match and by the time regionals rolled around, they were nearly unstoppable.

The junior captains are already planning on running it back next spring and pursuing a deep run to state in doubles. Anderson said they have a chance to do something special as seniors.

"I'm going to be working with them all summer, so I think they are going to be a force next year," he said. "... You got Olivia kind of holding down the fort and Denali roaming at the net and being aggressive. They're a good team."

Tyler and Kailee only got so much time to play together this season, but they took advantage of every moment. The brother and sister quickly figured out each other's strengths, allowing them to place second at regionals.

Anderson said it's always fun to pair siblings together on the tennis court, and the McNamees put on quite the show.

"We get to the last few weeks of the season and I'm going, 'Wow these guys are good enough to maybe do some damage, so let's put them together,' and it worked out great," he said.

Reseska drew the toughest player in the opening round at state — No. 1 seed Miranda Austin. She fell 6-1, 6-0, and Austin went on to win the girls singles title, but in that match Reseska played some of the best tennis of her career and battled for every point, Anderson said.

It was a thrilling state debut for the freshman, and Anderson can't wait to see what Reseska accomplishes over the next three years.

"She is dedicated so I'm sure she'll hit a lot this summer and this winter," he said, "and she'll for sure be a level better, and it's going to be fun to watch."

2021 4A IEL All-League Team

BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marwan Warnick, Lakeland.

GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Malika Warnick, Lakeland.

FIRST TEAM

BOYS SINGLES: Marwan Warnick, Lakeland.

BOYS DOUBLES: Josh Embree/Christian Story, Sandpoint.

GIRLS SINGLES: Malika Warnick, Lakeland.

GIRLS DOUBLES: Olivia Petruso/Denali Terry, Sandpoint.

MIXED DOUBLES: Sammie Unger/Bryce Hansen, Moscow.

SECOND TEAM

BOYS SINGLES: Lynnsean Young, Moscow.

BOYS DOUBLES: Brady Hanna/Brady Manko, Lakeland

GIRLS SINGLES: Neva Reseska, Sandpoint.

GIRLS DOUBLES: Ella Fountain/Emilia Fountain, Moscow.

MIXED DOUBLES: Kailee McNamee/Tyler McNamee, Sandpoint.