Mountain Cats claim divisional title
Alberton High School’s Emma Wooldridge had high expectations for herself going into the Southwestern B-C divisional tennis tournament in Darby over the weekend.
The senior won the tournament in her sophomore year and after an injury left her on the bench last year, Wooldridge has come back with a vengeance and posted an undefeated regular season.
“I was aiming to play strong (at the tournament),” Wooldridge said. “Even though I played a couple of tough competitors, the scores show how much I accomplished and improved during my senior season.”
The scores from the tournament don’t lie – straight set victory after straight set victory leading up to a finals match up against Jocelyn Caldwell of Loyola Sacred Heart. Momentum and improvement came together for Wooldridge and she cruised through Caldwell in straight sets (6-2, 6-0).
“Winning the championship felt amazing,” Wooldridge said. “I have been working as hard as I possibly can to get to where I am today and I am happy to finally see the results.”
With a perfect performance at the divisional tournament under her belt, Wooldridge is now looking forward to the state tournament this weekend in Missoula.
“Now that I am still undefeated with a strong win, I am hoping to push through the state tournament,” Wooldridge said. “I gained a lot of confidence and the nerves that usually come with important matches are gone. I feel that I will be a top competitor in the state tournament.”
In what can only be called an upset performance at the tournament, Superior-Alberton’s number three singles player Megan Drury caught fire and ended up taking third place overall.
“Megan Drury played well and won third,” Wooldridge said. “She was a number three singles player all season and beat some of the top players in the division.”
Wooldridge added that fellow Alberton senior and number two singles player Shawndra Rohrbach “gave her all and probably had the toughest matches in the tournament.” Rohrbach finished the tournament in the top six out of the 16 singles competitors and earned a ticket to the state tournament.
On the doubles side, the dynamic duo of Superior seniors Myranda Kuhl and Hillary Stevens cruised into the finals where they ran up against their stiffest competition of the season in Brianna Massey and Courage Louvier of Darby.
Kuhl and Stevens once again earned their nickname of the “Comeback Kids” and in a hard fought three set match overcame Massey and Louvier (7-6(4),4-6,6-4).
“It felt amazing,” Kuhl said of the championship victory. “Best feeling in the world! It was just an adrenaline rush, after that last point we just looked at each other and just hugged, I was so happy.”
The victory puts the senior duo one step closer to their goal of a state championship and Kuhl said having a hard fought win in the finals only improves their chances.
“I feel like that game proved that we are the team to beat,” Kuhl said. “We overcame a lot, facing a team we hadn’t played before, and having to sit around in the hot sun all day. We’re hoping to use the momentum by going into state, keeping an upbeat attitude and knowing that we are the team to beat. Together we can accomplish anything.”
Of the Mountain Cats performance as a whole, Kuhl said she felt the team “did amazing” a sentiment echoed by Wooldridge.
“I watched my team a lot this weekend and I noticed how much everyone was improved,” Wooldridge said. “I am proud to be a part of this amazing team.”
Wooldridge and the Mountain Cats have a lot to be proud of. As a team, Superior-Alberton won the divisional tournament in spectacular fashion with 55 points overall – the second place team, Loyola Sacred Heart had 32.
Superior-Alberton will bring three singles players and both doubles teams to Missoula for the state tournament on May 16 with high hopes of a successful showing.