Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Cortney Gunderson, Chinook Tennis

Sometimes, it seems like good athletes run in the family and when it comes to the Gunderson family in Chinook, that certainly seems to be true.

For the past few years, the Gunderson’s have had talented athletes don the orange and black of the Sugarbeeters, and whether it was Gavin or Cortney, they have found success. Gavin was an All-State football player, who also played American Legion Baseball for the Havre North Stars. Gavin is gone and graduated, leaving his younger sister, Cortney, to carry on the family legacy in terms of athletics and she is doing just fine.

Gunderson, who has played tennis, volleyball and basketball for the Beeters may not get the recognition of her brother, but she is quietly one of the better tennis players in the ranks of Class B-C.

After playing doubles and singles for the Beeters her freshman year, Gunderson moved exclusively to doubles, where she has paired with Lauren Harshman. The two, who have been long-time friends, didn’t necessarily know it then, but they were about to embark on a great partnership.

“I think the biggest thing for us, is we don’t get mad at the other person,” Gunderson said. “You have to be forgiving of your partner when they make mistakes, and I think we do that with each other. We have also been pretty good friends since we were young, so I think we already had that connection.”

In their first year of playing doubles together, the sophomore tandem qualified for the Class B-C state tournament. Then, last year, as juniors, the pair made it all the way to the state championship match, before falling and settling on being B-C runner-up.

Finishing second at state in any sport is significant, though, especially in one that you have only been playing for a few years, which is the case with Gunderson. Now Gunderson and Harshman have their minds set on winning the state title for doubles and, with the way they are going, they might just make it.

“That would mean a lot to me,” Gunderson said. “Everyone always sees me as Gavin’s little sister, so it would be nice to achieve that and make my own name for myself.”

As part of their early-season schedule, the Beeters were in Havre Tuesday to take on the Blue Ponies. Gunderson and Harshman had a solid day as usual, winning all four of the matches they played. And after their triumph over their Class A rivals, Havre Daily News caught up with Gunderson for five questions.

HDN: What got you involved with tennis to begin with?

Gunderson: "Well, I don't like track and I wanted to play a spring sport, so I decided on tennis."

HDN: How has it been having the same doubles partner for the past three years?

Gunderson: "It has worked out well. We haven't strangled each other, so that's good. I think we really try to build each other and help each other when we are down and that's important cause tennis is a really mental game and I feel like doubles is twice as mental as being a singles player."

HDN: What has been your favorite part about playing high school sports?

Gunderson: "I really like the team, how you just get to know your team really well. Working together for a common goal, I think just bonds you together."

HDN: What are you doing to do after graduation?

Gunderson: "When I graduate, I am going to college in Minnesota to study psychology. I am really interested in studying some of the different disorders and things that go on in the mind, like autism and things like that."

HDN: What was it like playing in the state championship match in doubles last year and what would it mean to you if you win it this year?

Gunderson: "It was crazy because I didn't expect to be there. I was nervous and shaking, but I felt like I deserved to be there, so that was cool. And if we could win it this year, it would be quite the accomplishment."