Bison tennis girls conquer only tourney of 2020
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Fourth of July brought a brilliant sight before the sun even set as McCook Bison girls won Saturday’s Western Nebraska Pandemic Tennis Invitational.
A plan put into play three months ago paid off for area coaches like McCook’s Matt Wiemers.
“It was great to get the girls on the court, especially for the seniors,” Wiemers remarked since corona virus wiped out Nebraska spring sports. “We coaches talked about setting up a meet back in April. The weather was ideal and it made for excellent playing conditions.”
Seniors Brynn Golden and Olivia Koetter are two Bison buddies who certainly made the most of Saturday. They only one lost one game all day while sweeping five opponents 6-love besides a 6-1 in over Gering at No. 2 doubles.
“Brynn and Olivia totally dominated play,” Wiemers confirmed about last year’s unbeaten JV doubles team. “They work well together and do a nice job of communicating on the court.”
“Jumping up to the varsity level, they really got after things,” he added. “They finished with an undefeated two-year run playing together.”
All McCook results and comments about the other top Bison placers:
Team scores: 1. McCook 35, North Platte 22, Hershey 17, McCook White 15, Gering 15, Scottsbluff 15, Alliance 15.
No. 1 doubles: Kori Uerling/Elsa Wilcox (6-0) won the championship. They won 6-0 over M. Campbell/A. Johnson, GER; won 6-1 over S. Uppa/S. States, NP; and E. Barenberg/E. Alberts, MC White; won 6-2 over L. Dailey/B. Lundgreen, ALL; and S. Bewley/M. Bewley, SCOT; 7-5 over A. Bernston/C. Sexton, HERS.
“After falling down 3-0, they battled back to tie (Hershey). They went up 6-5 and closed the match 6-5,” Wiemers observed. “Proud of the way they kept their cool and remained focused.”
No. 2 doubles; Brynn Golden/Olivia Koetter (6-0) won the championship. They won 6-0 over B. Bode, K. McNeal, HERS: C. Coates/Z. Moreno, NP; K. Keslin/H. Goltl, MC White; K. Stine/G. Risse, ALL; and J. Sterling/K. Kizzire, SCOT; won 6-1 over O. Leopold/A. Thompson, GER.
No. 1 singles: Megan Hodgson (6-0) won the championship. She won 6-0 over K. Perez, ALL; and H. Johnson, MC; 6-1 over P. Schneider, GER; and C. Schwarzkopf, SCOT; won 6-3 over K. Webster, NP; and won 7-6 (7-1) over K. Hastings, HERS.
“Megan really played well. She beat some quality opponents and was pretty consistent with her ground strokes,” Wiemers commented. “I liked the way she stepped up her game throughout the meet.”
Hodgson and Wilcox are two soon-to-be seniors who will likely lead the Bison into 2021.
No. 2 singles: Joslynn Hammond (5-1) placed second. She won 6-0 over K. Bolinger, ALL; P. Moondragon, HERS; and E. Kjendal, MC White, 6-0; 6-2 over B. Plaster, NP; and lost 6-2 to S. Lang, GER.
“Joslyn came up short in her championship match against Gering, but played to her strengths of being consistent and competitive,” Wiemers concluded. “Aside from the one loss, she dominated her matches. For her first taste of playing a varsity level meet, I was pleased with her performance.”
No. 2 singles: Emily Kjendal (4-2) placed third. She won 6-0 over P. Moondragon; HERS; S. Cheema, SCOT; and K. Boloinger, ALL; won 6-3 over B. Plaster, NP; lost 6-2 to S. Lang, GER; and 6-0 to J. Hammond, MC.
No. 2 doubles: Hannah Goltl/Kora Keslin (3-3) placed fourth with 6-1 win over O. Leopold/A. Thompson, GER; 6-2 over C. Coates/Z. Moreno, NP; and K. Stine/G. Risse, ALL.
No. 1 doubles: Elizabeth Barenberg/Emily Alberts placed fifth with 6-1 win over L. Dailey/B. Lundgreen, ALL; and 6-4 over M. Campbell/A. Johnson, GER. No. 1 singles: Hayden Johnson placed fifth with 6-0 wins over K. Perez, ALL; and C. Schwarzkopf, SCOT.