The Libby Tennis Invitational brought together top talent from across Western Montana last weekend, and Columbia Falls walked away as the dominant force with three championship titles. The tournament, hosted by Libby, featured teams from the Loggers, Troy Trojans, Superior, Cut Bank, Bigfork, and Columbia Falls (CFalls), creating a competitive atmosphere that showcased the region's rising tennis stars.
Columbia Falls' Wildcats stole the spotlight with wins in multiple categories. William Oberholtzer and Jack Austin claimed the boys doubles 1s and 2s title, while Ava Scholz and Fiona Bryant dominated girls doubles 1s and 2s. Scout Love added another trophy for the Wildcats by winning boys singles 3s and 4s. But the competition didn't stop there—Cut Bank's Kage Ramey showed his power in boys singles 1s and 2s, and Superior's Josie Crabb took home the girls singles 1s and 2s crown. Bigfork's Crace Holtmeyer rounded out the winners with a strong performance in girls singles 3s and 4s.
For the host Loggers, there were standout moments worth celebrating. Blaise Erickson and Isaac Lamere delivered the team's best result, finishing as runners-up in boys doubles 1s and 2s with a 2-1 record. Teague Thompson also impressed, earning third place in boys singles 3s and 4s after a 4-1 performance. His quarterfinal match against Bigfork's Love was a thriller, going three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-4) before Thompson fell just short. Zoey Fosgate added a fourth-place finish in girls singles 3s and 4s, going 3-2, while Silas Fosgate posted a 2-2 record to take fourth in boys singles 1s and 2s.
Other Libby and Troy players also took to the courts, gaining valuable experience. Libby's Eaddon Baca went 0-3 in boys singles 1s and 2s, while Claire Fantozzi finished 1-2 in girls singles 1s and 2s. Augie Bailey struggled to 0-3 in the same category. For Troy, Shelby Cole managed a 1-2 record in girls singles 1s and 2s, and the doubles pair of Cole Sunell and Alex Reatz went 0-2. Nolan Morris and Dmitri also went 0-2 in boys doubles. Libby's Zander Gassman and Dayton Hardy posted a 1-2 mark, while Bella Meyer and Aubrey Davis stood out with a 2-2 record in girls doubles. Shya Huck and Ashlenn James also went 2-2 for Libby in girls doubles. Troy's Kevin Hake was 0-2 in boys singles 3s and 4s, and Jolene Foutch went 1-2 in girls singles 3s and 4s. Libby's Colby Iliff (0-2), Jason Huni (1-2), Kayla Mesenbrink (0-2), and Troy's Brookelyn Bowers (0-2) rounded out the participants, each taking away lessons from the competitive weekend.
The invitational highlighted the depth of tennis talent in Western Montana, with every match adding to the excitement of the season ahead.