Bison girls seeded 1-2 for Class B tennis

McCook’s tennis team gathered a final time to celebrate their undefeated home season after winning Thursday’s invitational. The top six Bison playes teamed to go 16-0 while outscoring their closest foe by 23 points. McCook moves into Class B state t ournament play at Lincoln starting Thursday morning.

Courtesy photo

Class B state finals will be buzzing with McCook Bison if the tennis pre-tournament seedings hold true this weekend.

The mighty Bison girls have earned No. 1, 2 and No. 3 seeds when Class B’s best collide at Lincoln’s Woods Tennis Center starting Thursday morning.

No other Class B team can boast a 1-2-3 combination.

There should be no debate about whether sophomore Kassidy Michaelis deserves the No. 1 spot among No. 2 singles players.

Michaelis’ 39-0 record features multiple wins two of the other three top-rated contenders: No. 3 Brylee Lauby from Lexington (34-8) and No. 4 Katelyn Keffeler of Holdrege (29-11).

Nerves should also not become a problem since Michaelis advanced to last year’s state title match as a freshman. She won six state sets with none being closer than 6-1 until one tough three-set finals loss to now-graduated Leah Cates of Elkhorn South.

Michaelis has earned the first-round bye Thursday morning, meeting whoever wins between Kearney Catholic’s Brooke Eschenbrenner and Taylor Ronne from Norris.

Yet the super soph is only one part of McCook’s undefeated trifecta.

Seniors Lauren Koetter and Kacee Samway have also gone 39-0 against No. 1 doubles foes.

They are seeded second entering state behind 23-0 Ella Healy and Johnna Lowe from the Omaha Skutt Catholic Skyhawks.

Eastern Nebraska rules this division as no other top seven seed resides west of Grand Island Central Catholic.

However, Koetter/Samway’s side of the bracket features Hastings, Hershey, Lexington and Kearney Catholic. Their most formidable test before the semifinals would appear to be against York’s Maria McDougall and Nicole Mittman who are 18-10 this spring.

Samway and Koetter reached last year’s state quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, a thrilling rematch could await McCook’s new No. 2 doubles state team.

Senior Katie Kjendal and junior Syd Thompson (31-3) are seeded third in Class B.

Yet good Bison fans recall they handed No. 2 Sarah Oldfather and Annie Trettel (18-1) their only defeat at last month’s Lexington Invitational.

It’s even more memorable since Kjendal/Thompson trailed 6-1 before winning seven consecutive games to prevail 8-6.

They could meet again in Friday’s Class B semifinals. Kjendal and Thompson open against Hastings Adams Central seniors Shelby Gerloff/Morgan Konen Thursday morning.

The Bison boast one more Class B seed as junior Cassiddy Beeby (27-12) enters No. 1 singles play at No. 7 among those 30 competing.

Beeby meets Hastings St. Cecilia sophomore Hannah Thiesen in Thursday’s opening round. Matches are set to begin at 9 a.m.

A win would move Beeby into the second round likely against No. 10 seed Madison Herman (16-10 record) from Ogallala.

Beeby would love to work her way into a semifinal match with No. 2 Kristal Kuo (25-3) from Elkhorn.

The Elkhorn Antlers will likely be one team to beat for McCook’s quest in improving on last year’s No. 10 team finish. They own No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds entering state.

Powerful Omaha Duchesne has players seeded first, third, fourth and seventh.

Grand Island Central Catholic brings No. 2, 3, 4 and 6 seeds to state.

Watch for results and other details about state tennis later this week.