Beeters roll at Northern B-C tennis tourney

The Chinook Sugarbeeters have been liking hosting the Northern B-C girls divisional tennis tournament for years now. And last weekend, the Beeters were at it again.

Head coach Thom MacLean’s Beeters topped the divisional tournament held here Friday and Saturday at the Bill Vaughey Memorial Tennis Courts. Fort Benton was second and Chester/J-I was third.

Chinook, which won the Class B-C state girls championship several years ago and has placed at state in each of the last four seasons, pushed six girls through to this week’s B-C state tournament.

The Beeters got a divisional doubles title from the team of Alana Smith and Mariah Swank, who defeated the top duo from Fort Benton, 6-4, 6-2 in the title match Saturday. The Beeter duo of Ashton Niederegger and Stella Rigg are also headed to state after defeating Chester/J-I’s Madeline Woods and Haley Erickson in the doubles consolation final.

In singles, Kiana Burkhartsmeyer fell to Fort Benton's Leandra Marais 6-4, 6-2 in the championship match, while Brooke Nicholson beat Fort Benton’s Jacey Giles in the consolation final. C/J-I’s Susanne Stewart also finished fifth in singles and will be headed to the state tournament as well.

The Class B-C state tournament begins at several locations around Missoula Thursday morning.

Northern B-C Girls

Girls’ singles (top five to state)

Championship: Leandra Marais (FB) def. Kiana Burkhartsmeyer (CHI) 6-4, 6-2

Third place: Brooke Nicholson (CHI) def. Jacey Giles (FB) 6-1, 6-2

Fifth place: Susanne Stewart (CJI) def. Madison Schumaher (FB) 6-0, 6-0

Semifinals: Marais def. Nicholson 6-1, 6-1; Burkhartsmeyer def. Stewart

Girls’ doubles (top four to state)

Championship: Alana Smith/Mariah Swank (CHI) def. Miranda Woodhouse/Kinsey Claassen (FB) 6-3, 6-3

Third place: Ashton Niederegger/Stella Rigg (CHI) def. Haley Erickson/Madeline Woods (CJI) 6-3, 6-1

Semifinals: Smith/Swank def. Erickson/Woods 6-4, 6-4; Claassen/Woodhouse def. Niedereggar/Rigg 6-1, 6-2.