4A STATE TENNIS: Sandpoint girls win first title in school history, Rickert wins singles championship

BOISE — Freshman Pepper Rickert won all four of her matches in straight sets to capture the girls singles title and Sandpoint claimed the 4A girls state tennis title for the first time in school history as play wrapped up Saturday at the Appleton Tennis Center.

“This has always been a goal of mine and it feels so amazing to accomplish as a freshman — also having the team win state is just as amazing,” Rickert said. “I have been working towards this my whole life and have been working really hard with the team this season and with my hitting coach in Spokane to prepare for this.”

In the championship match, Rickert was leading 3-2 in the first set and then won nine straight games to take home the title.

“The girl Pepper played in the championship (Brinley Nelson) was a really strong hitter and also a freshman,” head coach Kent Anderson said. “They battled hard and there were long, big points, each player was hitting hard, and there were all these dropshots and lobs — it was fun to watch.”

In the semifinals, Nelson faced Bulldog Neva Reseska, who played a big part in helping Sandpoint bring home the team title.

“Neva had a great tournament; I’m proud of her,” Anderson said. “The girl she beat prior to facing Nelson ended up taking third. Neva came to play and was a big reason why we won state as a team.”

In girls doubles, Aubrey Knowles and Sydney Webb finished state runner-up. The two’s route to the championship match was tough, and they preserved through a long three-set semifinals match to make it there. In the semis, after losing the first set, Webb and Knowles were trailing 4-2 in the second set, but came back to win in a miraculous fashion.

“One point at a time, they just kept plugging away and got stronger and stronger as the game went on,” Anderson said. “It was really emotional. The other team scored six straight points during the tiebreaker to go up 9-7, but somehow Sydney and Aubrey found a way.”

Anderson also noted how Elly Tutin and Brennan Johnson brought home an important victory in mixed doubles.

“They had a really good run this year,” Anderson said. “Every point counts towards a team championship and it was so close. Turns out we won by more than one point, but it could have been the difference.”

Matthew Norton and Jacob Dawson also competed in boys singles for Sandpoint, both winning two matches each. 

“They both played really well,” Anderson said. “Jacob was just an eyelash away from winning the whole thing. The kid who won it, Jacob played him really close. He’ll be back next year.”

As for Sandpoint’s girls, they’ll be back next year as well, with even more firepower.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES — 1, Sandpoint, 40.5; 2, Bishop Kelly 32.5; 3, Hillcrest 29.5; 4, Idaho Falls 21; 5, Ridgevue 13, T6, Century, Twin Falls 11; 8, Emmett 8; 9, Pocatello 6; T10, Blackfoot, Skyline 4; 12, Vallivue 3; 13, Bonneville 2; T14, Canyon Ridge, Wood River 1; 16, Lakeland 0.5.

BOYS TEAM SCORES — 1, Century 42; 2, Bishop Kelly 34.5; 3 Twin Falls 28; 4, Wood River 25; 5, Idaho Falls 17; 6, Emmett 11; 7, Skyview 9; 8, Sandpoint 7.5; 9, Bonneville 4; 10, Burley 3; T11, Hillcrest, Ridgevue 2; 13, Lakeland 1.5; 14, Canyon Ridge 1.

SANDPOINT RESULTS

GIRLS SINGLES — FIRST ROUND: Pepper Rickert, Sandpoint, d. Emma Pierson, Canyon Ridge, 6-0, 6-0. QUARTERFINALS: Rickert d. Maggie Scanlan, Bishop Kelly, 6-0, 6-1. SEMIFINALS: Rickert, d. Shay Shippen, Skyline, 6-0, 6-1. CHAMPIONSHIP: Rickert d. Brinley Nelson, Hillcrest 6-2, 6-0.

GIRLS SINGLES — FIRST ROUND: Neva Reseska, Sandpoint, d. Addi Westwood, Idaho Falls, 6-4, 6-2. QUARTERFINALS: Reseska, d. Madelyn Ames, Ridgevue, 6-1, 6-2. SEMIFINALS: Brinley Nelson, Hillcrest, d. Reseska, 6-2, 6-1. CONS. SEMIFINALS — Addi Westwood, Idaho Falls, d. Reseska, 6-3, 6-3.

GIRLS DOUBLES — FIRST ROUND: Sydney Webb/Aubrey Knowles, Sandpoint d. Laura Harris/Regan Jackson, Vallivue, 6-3, 6-2. QUARTERFINALS: Webb/Knowles, d. Meg Sutton/Alaina Bitton, Century, 6-3, 6-3. SEMIFINALS: Webb/Knowles, d. Keionna Roy/Brianna Freeborn, Blackfoot, 4-6, 6-4, 12-10. CHAMPIONSHIP: Sofia Guzman/Kayla Nielson, Bishop Kelly, d. Webb/Knowles, 6-2, 6-2.

BOYS SINGLES — FIRST ROUND: Jacob Dawson, Sandpoint, d. Chase Peterson, Canyon Ridge, 6-0, 6-1. QUARTERFINALS: Dawson, d. Joel Perry, Idaho Falls, 6-4, 6-3. SEMIFINALS: Noah Cox, Twin Falls, d. Jacob Dawson, Sandpoint, 6-0, 6-4. CONS. SEMIFINALS: Steffan Schrader, Skyview, d. Dawson, 6-4, 6-1.

BOYS SINGLES — FIRST ROUND: Matthew Norton, Sandpoint, d. Andy Hinkson, Idaho Falls, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9. QUARTERFINALS: Jack Tobin, Bishop Kelly, d. Norton, 6-0, 6-0. CONS. SECOND ROUND: Norton, d. Ethan Myler, Century, 6-2, 7-6 (3). CONS THIRD ROUND: Steffan Schrader, Skyview, d. Norton, 6-3, 6-4.

BOYS DOUBLES — FIRST ROUND: Ryan Lewis/Brenner Warren, Emmett, d. Ethan Ballard/Nathan Duke, Sandpoint, 6-2, 6-2. CONS. FIRST ROUND: Carson Steffensen/Jaden Bouck, Hillcrest, d. Ballard/Duke, 6-3, 6-3.

MIXED DOUBLES — FIRST ROUND: Charlese Bennett/Brad Wadley, Ridgevue, d. Elly Tutin/Brennan Johnson, Sandpoint, 6-3, 6-1. CONS. FIRST ROUND: Tutin/Johnson, d. Cody Mckinnon/Sydney Nickum, Wood River, 7-6, 1-6, 10-7. CONS. SECOND ROUND: Shep Bulter/Macie Sutton, Century, d. Tutin/ Johnson, Sandpoint, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 10-5.

    Sandpoint freshman Pepper Rickert shows off the 4A girls singles championship trophy alongside state-runner up girls doubles duo Aubrey Knowles (left) and Sydney Webb (right).