Panther tennis teams shine in Gillette
Sweep Thunder Basin, Campbell County
PHS No. 1 doubles player Aidan Jacobsen returns a shot against Rock Springs during a match earlier this month. The Panther and Lady Panther tennis teams traveled to Gillette on Friday, returning home with wins over Thunder Basin and Campbell County.
TRIBUNE PHOTO BY CARLA WENSKY
Posted
Friday may have seemed to the Powell High School tennis teams like the longest day ever, starting with hopping a bus at 7 a.m. and finishing at an indoor court in Gillette 14 hours later.
But while the day was long, it was also productive: The Panthers and Lady Panthers swept the teams from Thunder Basin and Campbell County to return home with a perfect 4-0 record on the day and their first conference wins of the season.
“It was a good trip over to Gillette,” said PHS head coach Joe Asay. After departing Powell early, the team started matches at 1:30 p.m. with the Thunder Basin. “The later matches against Campbell went a little long due to weather, but all in all, it was a good day for us,” Asay said.
Lady Panthers 4, Thunder Basin 1
Against Thunder Basin, Lady Panther Sloane Asay picked up her first win of the season in No. 1 singles, beating Alyson Borchers in a three-set thriller 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Ashley Dunkerley also needed three sets to pick up the win at the No. 2 spot, beating Alexa Kubacher 7-5, 6-7, 6-1.
The No. 1 doubles team of Hailee Paul and Sophe Morrow came up short against TB’s Kim Kern and Kinsley Larson 6-4, 6-4 — the only loss for the Lady Panthers in the match.
“Hailee and Sophe battled hard that whole match, just came up short,” coach Asay said.
Sami Cole and Sydnee Thompson dispatched TB’s Autumn Lund and Ali Morgan in straight sets 6-6, 6-0, while at the No. 3 doubles spot, Whitney Hull and Kaili Wisniewski beat Katie and Maggie Bruse 6-3, 6-3.
“Thunder Basin always have some real competitive teams, so I was pleased by that win,” Asay said.
Panthers 4, Thunder Basin 1
Jesse Brown continued his winning ways at No. 1 singles, beating the Bolts’ Jack Voigt 6-2, 6-0. Dylan Preator was pushed a bit in the No. 2 singles spot, winning the first set against TB’s Jordan Klaasen 7-6 but dropping the second 6-7. Preator rebounded in the third 6-1 to take the match.
Powell’s pairing of Aidan Jacobsen and Ethan Bartholomew also survived a three-set match at No. 1 doubles, beating Joel Klassen and Mason Miller 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Grant Dillivan and Jay Cox took the loss at No. 2 doubles to Isaac Lass and Carson Hanson 6-1, 6-0, while Logan Brown and Aiden Chandler were winners at No. 3 doubles over TB’s Luke Lass and Matt Mobley.
“Grant and Jay are still trying to figure out what works for them, but it’s coming together,” Asay said of the seniors and friends, adding that, “Grant may be a little bit further along in his game, but Jay is super-athletic. They’ll be fine.”
Lady Panthers 3, Campbell County 2
Against Campbell County Friday afternoon, the Lady Panthers took losses at both No. 1 and No. 2 singles, but a sweep in all three doubles matches gave Powell the 3-2 overall win.
At No. 1 and No. 2 singles, Lady Panthers Sloane Asay and Dunkerley lost in straight sets to Campbell County’s Alli Hays (6-0, 6-0) and Alexa Richert (6-0, 6-1), respectively.
“Both Sloane and Ashley struggled, a bit of a let-down on both their parts,” coach Asay said. “They both went three sets at Thunder Basin, so I think they were a little bit wiped out in the afternoon.”
Powell rebounded in doubles play, however. At the No. 1 position, Paul and Morrow downed Livia Castellanos and Abi Neary 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5. Cole and Thompson made short work of Taylor Kannapel and Mari Bouzis in the No. 2 doubles spot (6-0, 6-1), while Hull and Wisniewski broke the 2-2 stalemate at No. 3 doubles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Isabell St. Martin and Chloe Rankin.
“The doubles teams all got it done, so that was fun,” coach Asay said.
Panthers 4, Campbell County 1
Weather became a factor late in the afternoon. The Panthers started the action outside at Campbell County, but moved indoors to the Campbell County Rec Center once the rains hit.
Brown and Preator remained undefeated at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, with Brown making short work of Campbell County’s Miles Veyna 6-0, 6-2. Preator had a bit more of a challenge against Tanner Lemm, eventually winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The Camels’ No. 1 doubles team of Jefferson Neary and Austin Robertson proved too much for Jacobsen and Bartholomew, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 for CC’s only win of the match.
Dillivan and Cox beat the Camels’ Jason Fink and Logan Dymond 6-3, 6-1, while Brown and Chandler won a three-set grind at No. 3 doubles against Marcus Sarvey and Tully Allison 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.
The PHS tennis teams are in action today (Tuesday) in Cody against their cross-county rivals — the first of two meetings between the two teams. Today’s meeting will be considered a non-conference match, while the second match on Sept. 5 at PHS will count toward the conference standings.
No comments:
Post a Comment