It's a Mee world in Class A tennis

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It's a Mee world in Class A tennis

By BILL SPELTZ of the Missoulian | Posted: Thursday, April 1, 2010 11:27 pm | weapon on the tennis court is something that cannot be taught by some high-priced professional.

In fact it's not even necessary to have a racket. Instead you'll need a basketball, golf club and volleyball along with a feisty foe and lots of crowd energy.

It's called cumulative competitive experience, and the Libby senior has built up a bushel-full as a four-sport athlete. Last May it came in handy when she became the first Logger to win a Class A state singles title. She rallied to beat Billings Central's Brittney Hatzell in three sets, pushing her 2009 record to 20-0.

"I think it's definitely a difference-maker," Mee said of her poise. "I think that's what helped me win state last year was being in pressure situations.

"It was a long match. The first set everything was going her way and then it all switched. I think she was the favorite going in so it was kind of cool to be the underdog."

Arguably the best all-around female athlete in the state, the 6-foot-1 Mee calls tennis her second favorite sport behind basketball. She's shopping around for a hoops scholarship this spring, but would never take tennis out of the equation.

"In tennis it's really good to know you're always in control," she said. "If there's something going wrong you can change it. It's hard to not have someone to pick you up, but it is good because you can make a change on your own."

Armed with a dangerous serve and punishing forehand, Mee is excited about defending her state title. She also believes her team can improve on last year's third-place finish, although winning state will be tough with Havre returning everyone from its state champion team.

For Libby to finish in the top two, it will probably need big points from its No. 1 doubles team of Audra Poppen and Anna Valentine. Then "maybe one more singles player to qualify," according to Mee.

Libby is not the only girls' team to watch in western Montana. Polson appears equally salty with a potential state placewinner in No. 1 singles player Jane Probst.

"Then we have a doubles team that played for sixth (at state) last year in Kayla and Kendyall Rochin," Polson coach Bob Hislop said. "And we have five to seven more kids that will complement them."

In boys' Class A tennis, Corvallis is the team to beat in western Montana. Ninth-year coach Chris Maul-Smith returns six state qualifiers, including sophomore Mitchell Decker, junior Isaac Smith and seniors Levi Pauley, Luke Allsop, Spencer Fehr and Dillon Murray.

"Comparing them to last year I think they've come in with a lot of confidence and a very strong work ethic," Maul-Smith said. "They've gone full-out in their conditioning.

"These boys got fired up after state. They were expecting to do some things and not very many got very far. I think that was a real motivator."

Making the Blue Devils even more formidable is the addition of freshman Bridger Walczynski, a regular on the summer tournament circuit.

"We won the state title back in 2006 and I think this team is at least as strong as that one," said Maul-Smith, who looks for Havre and Billings Central to challenge for state supremacy along with his squad.

Hislop believes his Polson team can challenge for a boys' divisional title if everything comes together. Matt Roberts and Shad Giles are state-tested leaders for the Pirates. Roberts will likely play singles and Giles will play doubles with Justin Evertz.

The Libby boys could make some noise with returning state qualifier Alex Cislo. The junior is expected to pair with newcomer T.J. Benson in doubles.

Nate Broden is another returning state qualifier. He lost his doubles partner to graduation, and will pair with Lewis Brossman. In singles, Cree Maloney will hold down the No. 1 spot.