Shadle Nets Boys Singles, Girls Doubles Titles

Prep tennis

July 14 is an important date on Philip Laubscher’s summer schedule.

That’s when the Shadle Park tennis star will be in San Francisco to hear his favorite group, Metallica, in concert.

“I’m pumped,” Laubscher said.

And that’s not the only thing the junior is pumped for. He will make his first state appearance Friday when the State 4A tennis tournament begins in Kennewick.

Laubscher, the Greater Spokane League’s top seed, defeated Big Nine Conference No. 1 Bryce Cooper of Eisenhower 6-1, 7-5 on Saturday in the Region IV 4A boys singles championship at Central Valley. The top four in each event from regionals advanced.

Laubscher (25-1), who was limited by a shoulder injury last spring, breezed through the first set in 18 minutes but was pushed in the second set after falling behind 3-1.

“Everything was just clicking and he wasn’t in too much of a groove yet and I was able to roll all over him,” Laubscher said of the opening set. “He got more consistent and hit a lot of my balls back. I was surprised.”

Laubscher also was surprised he wasn’t playing Kamiakin’s Luke Roloff for the title. He had hoped for the chance to avenge his only loss of the season that came during the Inland Empire Tennis Tournament final two weeks ago. Roloff lost to Cooper in three sets in the semifinals and placed third.

The GSL’s other regional title winner was Shadle Park’s Lisa Trefts and Leslie Liddell in girls doubles. The Highlanders, No. 3 out of the GSL, came back from one set down to defeat Ali Mathieu and Kimberly Scholz of Davis 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

“We surprised ourselves,” Trefts said. “It was incredible. It was seriously like magic out there the way we played together. Each match we peaked a little more and everything came together for us in the finals.”

Trefts is making her first trip to state after finishing fifth at region last year with Lindsay Scribner.

Gonzaga Prep senior Lisa Van Gemert also is headed to state for the first time. Van Gemert had to play teammate Carla Jones in a loser-out match Saturday morning to guarantee herself a spot. She defeated Jones, a freshman, 6-0, 6-0.

“I’m just speechless I’m so excited,” Van Gemert said. “Mentally it’s so hard to play a teammate. You’re wanting her to do so well and you’re staying competitive at the same time.”

Van Gemert will be joined by Bullpups sophomores Marie Carroll and Marissa Flinders, who are making their second state appearance. They defeated East Valley’s Sarah Shogren and Elly Smith in the third-fourth match.

In the boys doubles final, James VanHess and Kevin Novan of Ferris won the first set but Eisenhower seniors Casey Whiteside and Matt Hyink battled back for a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory.

GSL No. 1 Karl Johnson and Peter Johnson of Lewis and Clark survived a loser-out morning doubles match and finished third with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Wenatchee’s Martin Uylangco and Ryan Parsons.

Karl Johnson was just pleased to qualify for state his senior season, considering he missed school Tuesday and Wednesday with a temperature of 102 degrees.

“That’s all we wanted to do,” he said of making state.

West Valley’s Staci Heidenson won the girls singles consolation match at the Region IV 3A tournament in Sunnyside and qualified for the state tournament. Heidenson topped Eastmont’s Heidi Stagge 6-2, 6-4 for the No. 2 seed to next weekend’s tourney at the University of Washington… . Cheney’s boys and girls both placed fourth in the team races.

Pullman and Medical Lake split state berths, but Pullman won both team titles at the District 7 2A tournament at Washington State University. Pullman edged ML 77-75 in the boys event and had a 65-55 edge in the girls competition… . ML’s Justin Blayne defeated Pullman’s Jimmy Cofer 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 for the boys singles title… . Mychaelanne Niemann of Pullman defeated Chewelah’s Sara Clements 6-2, 6-1 for the girls singles title… . Albert Hsu and Brian Christie of Pullman won the boys doubles title, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) over ML’s Jeremiah Johnson and Harvey Cole… . ML’s Ariel Johnson and Stephanie Sullivan defeated Pullman’s Louise Trolle and Maria Cardoso 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 for the girls doubles title. … Only champions advance to state.

Colton Loder of Freeman outlasted Pablo Huber of LaCrosse-Washtucna 6-7, 6-1, 6-2 for the boys singles title at the District 7-9 1A/B tournament title at Whitworth… . Sprague-Harrington’s Mindy Hatcher topped Davenport’s Ashley Paul 6-1, 6-3 for the girls title… . Freeman’s Taylor Zajonc and Andy Duncan defeated teammates Caleb Brown and Jacob Hinch 6-2, 6-3 for the boys doubles title… . Katie DePonty and Danielle Luber of St. George’s won the girls title with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback over Davenport’s Kristy Guhlke and Natalie Rux.