Broncos set to compete in regional tennis tournament

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague tennis team traveled to West Valley High School in Spokane to compete in the district tournament on Saturday, May 16.

The team had two singles players, two doubles teams and one alternate qualify to advance to the Regional Tournament.

The team now travels to the Regional Tournament at Mead on May 22-23.

The LRS girls’ team won districts, while the boys team earned a second place finish.

Head Coach Liz Melville said on the girls’ side, there was not a dominant team but the LRS girls were fortunate to have high placing wins with the doubles team and No. 1 singles player.

On the boys’ side, Melville said St. George’s has remained consistent and strong for a long time, allowing them to continue to earn the first place team finish.

Melville said St. George’s has multiple athletes who take lessons and participate in tournaments year round.

This year, the only losses Mark Wilbers and Travis Ste. Marie had in the singles contest throughout the season were to athletes from the St. George’s team.

For the LRS boys, Wilbers earned a third place finish after defeating Jacob Martin of St. George’s in a match for third and fourth.

Ste. Marie continues on to regionals as an alternate, after losing the qualifying match to Martin.

Kyle Canaday and Alex Wheeler earned a return trip to districts in a quest to make another trip to state. The No. 1 doubles team earned their seat into regionals by defeating St. George’s No. 2 doubles team, but lost to St. George’s No. 1 doubles team.

The loss allowed the Broncos No. 1 doubles team to move to Regionals as the second place team.

In the final match of the day for the girls No. 1 singles, Rose Melville earned the top spot into Regionals when she defeated Lura Potter of Colfax.

Rose Melville earned the win with scores of 7-6, 6-1.

Also earning a trip to the Regional Tournament is Carissa Peavey and Emily Boutain, the No. 1 doubles team for the Broncos.

The duo reserved their spot by defeating Reardan’s No. 2 doubles team, and Odessa-Harrington’s No. 1 doubles team to qualify for the third and fourth place match.

Both third and fourth place in doubles moves on to Regionals.

The team lost to Wilbur-Creston, moving them on as the fourth place team.

The other athletes participating in districts, but not qualifying for the Regional Tournament, were Megan Buriak as a girls singles player, Josh Yow as a boys singles player, and Zeth Swanger and Michael Wheeler as athletes in the boys doubles contest.

The team members now move on to Regionals this weekend for the opportunity to qualify for the state tournament.

The State Tournament is held in Yakima on May 29-30.