Juneau-Douglas High School junior Sami Good and freshman Erica Hurtte stunned Alaska’s top-seeded high school girls doubles team Saturday to win the Alaska School Activities Association First National Bank state tennis championship.
Good and Hurtte avenged an early season 6-2, 6-0 loss to West High School’s Eva Lekander and Allie Haynes with an impressive dismantling of the talented Eagles’ duo by the score of 6-2, 6-4.
“We just learned their weaknesses,” Good said. “How to get in their head and stuff. After we lost to them we practiced a lot, because we knew they would be our biggest competition. … We just came out with everything we had. That is probably what made us win.”
With the No. 2 seed in the state tournament, Good and Hurtte defeated West’s Felicity Bidwell and Shannon Croft 6-0, 6-0 in the opening match; then topped Chugiak’s Hibiki Shibata and Maggie Krafft in the semi-finals 6-1, 6-4.
Top-seeded Lekander and Haynes stopped Lathrop’s Anna Kardash and Amara Hackett 6-0, 6-2 to open tourney play and then edged Dimond’s Roslyn McCormack and Piper Laudon in the semi-finals 6-0, 6-0.
The balcony seating was full to watch the titles clash.
“It wasn’t that bad,” Hurtte said. “I was a bit nervous considering how many people were in the balcony watching, but once I am in the match, I don’t really pay attention and it is just all about what is happening right then.”
Good and Hurtte broke West’s service twice in the first set and once in the second.
The game plan was to approach the net as much as possible and play to the weaker of their two opponents.
“I was so relieved we didn’t have to play a third set,” Good said. “It didn’t really hit me until we got off the court and my mom was there and she and Erica started crying.”
Good’s mom is assistant coach Anne Kincheloe.
“I did not even know it was the final point,” Hurtte said. “Everybody started cheering and it was a lot of relief. I couldn’t believe what had happened. It was a neat feeling. Once I got off the court it was a lot of relief. I was really happy.”
Kincheloe said the water works started with a hug.
“They were shaking when they got off the court,” Kincheloe said. “This is very exciting. I was very proud of these girls for playing smart out there and having a game plan that they stuck to.”
Having two fewer courts at the Juneau Racquet Club/Alaska Club Valley this season also contributed to the win. The Crimson Bears were forced to have more kids on doubles play and use their court time efficiently.
This was Good’s third trip to state and Hurtte’s first. In 2013, Good and Kathe Tallmadge placed third in girls doubles. In 2014, she and Jon Scudder were upset in their opening mixed doubles match and went on to lose the consolation final.
“I did pretty good for a freshman,” Good said. “But then, last year, I did pretty bad. I knew the competition and how much pressure there was with a balcony full of people watching. I just tried to keep us calm. I wanted to win because of how bad we played last year.”
Last season Hurtte practiced with the JDHS team as an eighth grader and was considered one of the best players, boys or girls, on the Crimson Bears’ team.
Hurtte brings a consistency to the team. She credited their state win to “Rallying with ground strokes, placement of balls and … just playing smart.”
Said Good: “I try to be positive when one of us is not doing as well. I just try to talk us up. Erica is a stronger server. I probably play stronger at the net.”
The Crimson Bears’ mixed doubles team of seniors Katherine Kane and Derek Dzinich fell to West’s Elana Fortson and David Woo 6-0, 6-0, and lost in the consolation bracket to East’s Robbie Brewer and Olivia Grant 8-2.
In boy’s singles, JDHS junior Kelson Rounds-McPherson topped Palmer’s Johnie Burton 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 and lost in the semi-finals to South’s No. 2 seed Joseph Hemry 6-0, 6-0.
In boy’s doubles, JDHS senior Anton Rieselbach and sophomore Kolby Hoover opened play with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to top-seeded Brandon Vanlandingham and Brian Ely of West Valley, and then won a consolation match 8-6 over Lathrop’s Jake Roselus and Sam Greenberg. They lost in consolation semi-finals 8-6 to South’s Tom Hanks and Chris Bailey.
Past JDHS state tennis champions have included Brian Vandor and Laurel Messerschmidt in mixed doubles in 2009; Merijke Coenraad and Steffan Wilcox in mixed doubles in 2008; and Hong Kong exchange student Ling Chan in women’s singles in 2007, the first-ever girl’s singles state championship, as 2007 was the inaugural tournament.
“I think next year Erica will probably play singles,” Good said. “She is that good. I will probably play mixed doubles with Kolby (Hoover).”
With their state championship medals in hand the duo planned their night.
“Dinner,” Hurtte said.
Added Good: “And a shower.”
