Lady Bobcat netters headed to state
Brook Bibler returns shot as doubles partner Molia Dao readies for a return from their Mission opponents during Saturday's Divisional tennis matches in Bigfork. Bibler and Dao finished second and advanced to the State finals this weekend in Bozeman. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
Good things are in the works for the Superior High School tennis team.
As the only school tennis program in either Mineral or Sanders counties, the Lady Bobcat netters are the ember that tennis fans hope will fan the flames of growth and restore the program to its past glory.
Last year the Bobcats sent one player to the state tournament, which will be played this coming weekend in Bozeman.
And while they did not qualify enough players to have a shot at the team title, the Bobcats have a very good shot at a couple of individual awards for the three team members who will make the trip.
This past Saturday the Bobcats took part in the Divisional tennis championships in Bigfork and emerged with two realistic chances to bring home some prizes.
Sophomore Lanie Crabb, who made it to state last year after winning the individual title at the 2021 Divisional tournament will have a chance to improve on her State performance as a result of repeating this year as the Western B singles champion.
Although Crabb did not earn a top finish at State last year, hopes are high she can bring home some hardware for the Superior trophy case.
And this year she will have some company at the State tourney as the Superior doubles team of Molia Dao and Brook Bibler finished second at this year’s Divisional, which qualified them for the trip to Bozeman.
Dao and Bibler, who have shown big time promise as the year has progressed, fell to a doubles team from Mission 4-6, 1-6 on the city tennis courts on a cold, windy day in Bigfork.
After establishing a brief lead early in the match, the Mission duo rallied to take control of the match and clinch the Divisional title and a high seed for the upcoming State tournament.
Crabb, meanwhile, lost a set for the first time in a long time but maintained control of her singles championship match, winning 6-2, 4-6 and 6-2 to lock up her second straight individual Division title.
“I’ve been so proud of how hard these girls have worked and how far they’ve come,” said head coach Angie Hopwood earlier this season. “We have a good group of kids who really want to learn and get better”.
And next season looks even better for the Bobcats who return the main portion of their young team for next year.