The one thing Gracie Smyley wants to avoid is complacency.
Whitefish’s top singles player marched into the semifinal round of the Class A state tennis tournament with two clean victories Thursday at Pioneer Park. And though she’s on track to retain the championship she won as a sophomore in 2019 — remember: there was no tourney last year — Smyley is taking nothing for granted.
“It feels pretty good, but I definitely don’t want to assume anything,” said Smyley, who is back to winning at state after COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 campaign. “I’m glad I won my two matches today. It’s looking good so far, but you never know. That’s tennis. I’m just really glad to be here.”
Smyley topped Lewistown’s Kayla Arndt 6-0, 6-0 in her first-round match, then dispatched Hardin’s Katana Reisig 6-1, 6-1 for a smooth transition into the semis on Friday.
Smyley, who plans to attend Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, next year to play both tennis and basketball, said she tried mixing shots more than usual on Thursday, combining baseline lobs with a penchant for going to the net.
But, she said, there’s room for improvement Friday on what will be the final day of tennis of her high school career.
“I played pretty well,” Smyley said. “I was just trying to feel things out today with both matches. It worked out.”
“I’m definitely going to have to get more first serves in” on Friday, she said. “I’ve got to move my feet better and expect anything, be ready for any player and have fun.”
Smyley will face Maddie Weber of Stevensville, who outlasted Miles City’s Emily Daughty 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. The other semifinal match will pit Hamilton’s Eliana Foss against Columbia Falls’ Hannah Schweikert.
In boys singles, Miles City’s Dalton Polesky is set for a semifinal match Friday against Jayce Cripe of Whitefish. It is a rematch of a first-round meeting from 2019, which Polesky won in straight sets.
Polesky advanced Thursday with wins over Libby’s Michael Hollingsworth (6-1, 6-0) and Dillon’s Marcus Sandall (6-0, 6-1) at Rose Park. He is trying to add to a family legacy: Polesky’s father, Keith, was a Class A singles champion at Glendive in the mid-1980s.
“Obviously the matches just get tougher from here,” Polesky said. “(Cripe) is a really good player. I watched him a little bit today. He’s a really good player. I expect a good match. Should be a good one, a fun one.”
Havre’s Josh Currie and Columbia Falls’ Niels Getts will meet in the other boys singles semifinal match.