JDHS tennis given tough state draws

JDHS tennis given tough state draws

Tournament begins on Saturday in Anchorage

The Alaska School Activities Association released the tennis state championship brackets Monday.

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Erica Hurtte nabbed the No. 2 seed in the girls singles bracket, setting up a likely finals rematch with South Anchorage’s Christine Hemry, a three-time state champion. Hurtte will face Kodiak’s Illa Abad on Friday at 10:15 a.m. in the first round at the Alaska Club East in Anchorage. ASAA seeds only the top-two players or teams in each of the brackets. The other seven players or teams are paired via a random draw.

JDHS coach Kurt Dzinich is confident Hurtte will be able to get back to the finals against Hemry on Saturday afternoon.

“There is an excellent chance that the two of them will meet in the final for the third straight year,” he said.

None of the remaining seven JDHS players were selected as the No. 1 or No. 2 seeds. Boys singles senior Wolf Dostal and mixed doubles pair Sahil Bathija and Jaymie Collman will have to square off against either Nos. 1 and 2 seeds though.

Dostal plays No. 1 David Columbus of East Anchorage on Friday at 9 a.m. Bathija and Collman take on the No. 2 Peyton and Walker Brown of South Anchorage later in the day at 1:30 p.m.

The doubles teams of William Smoker and River Reyes-Boyer and Adelie McMillan and Olivia Moore play in non-seeded first-round matches against West Anchorage teams.

“This last two weeks (of practice) is just for the state team,” Dzinich said. “So we’re working away on all aspects of the game, whether that’s shots or strategy or endurance or anything else that comes into play.”

JDHS has appeared in every state tournament since the inaugural competition in 2007. The Crimson Bears have won state championships in girls singles (2007), mixed doubles (2008, 2009, 2016) and girls doubles (2015) and finished as high as second in team standings (2016).


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.


More in Sports

A beach marmot alongside the trail seems to pose for its photograph. (Photo by Helen Unruh)
On the Trails: Spring??

The calendar says it is spring and maybe it is here. But… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior JJ McCormick is honored during the Crimson Bears baseball senior night against Ketchikan Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears baseball team sweeps Kayhi

JDHS underclassmen step up to honor seniors.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Nick Iverson wins the boys’ 800-meter run with a time of 1:55.27 during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS track record falls at Ketchikan meet

Iverson speeds to 800 mark, Connally chases 100.

In this file photo from last week’s home win against Soldotna the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé back defense of Ryan Thibodeau (12), keeper Callen Walker, Elliott Welch (35), Bryce Haygood (15), Reed Maier (19) heading the ball, Erik Thompson (24) and Owen Rumsey defend the box in a win over the Stars. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Crimson Bears soccer teams battle through Fairbanks

JDHS boys win two more, girls fall in two close matches.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé's Ida Meyer runs in the girls' 3,200 meter, finishing third during the Ketchikan Invitational at Esther Shea Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)
Kestel, Leuahli win opening track events at Kayhi

First day of Ketchikan Invitational Track meet ends.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Noah Lewis slides safely into home plate as Ketchikan pitcher Owen Mendoza attempts a tag during the Crimson Bears’ 17-7 win over the Kings on Friday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. The ball was jarred loose on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears baseball team swats Kings

JDHS wins first game of three-game home stand.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé seniors, from left, Jacob Katasse, Christian Nelson and JJ McCormick will be honored Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park after the Crimson Bears 4 p.m. game against Ketchikan and before their 7 p.m. game with the Kings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS baseball team to honor senior players Saturday

Crimson Bears seniors are Jacob Katasse, JJ McCormick and Christian Nelson

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junor Peyton Wheeler (5) shown in this file photo scoring last week against Soldotna, scored two goals Thursday in the Crimson Bears 2-1 win over Lathrop at Fairbanks. JDHS plays at Lathrop again Friday and at West Valley Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS soccer teams challenge Lathrop in Fairbanks

Crimson Bears topple Malemutes; girls win 2-1, boys 7-0.

Most Read