Pohl, Thomas undefeated in singles
The Cheney High boys’ tennis team’s quest for a third consecutive Great Northern League championship was off to a rocky start.
At a March 10 jamboree, the Blackhawks defeated Ellensburg (5-2) and lost to Moses Lake (5-2) and Othello (4-3).
“I was pretty impressed with what they were able to do, especially with only two outside practices before the jamboree,” head coach Jesse Erickson said of his team’s effort in their first contest. Like other Cheney spring sports teams, Erickson said his squad held most of their practices indoors in the gym or the cafeteria during the first two weeks of the season.
“They were all happy to finally get on the courts,” he added.
In singles, Aaron Fillmore, No. 1, went 1-2 for the day, with his only win against Ellenburg’s Andrew Hull (6-3).
Dixon Gerber, No. 2, went 2-1, winning matches against Ellensburg’s Johnny Bartlett (6-3) and Othello’s Miguel Lopez (6-2).
No. 3 Hunter Pohl went undefeated, defeating Ellensburg’s Vaughn Coreis (6-3), Othello’s Taver Lawson (6-3) and Moses Lake’s Trenton Vance (6-4).
No. 4 Liam Thomas was also 3-0 with wins against Ellensburg’s Riley Macy (6-0) Othello’s Tyler Wagner (6-2) Moses Lake’s Garrett Vance (6-1).
Erickson said all four players in this year’s singles lineup came into the season with varsity experience on doubles.
“They’re all serving well and attacking the net,” Erickson said. “They’re taking their experience from doubles and applying it (to singles play).”
In doubles action, No. 2 Jared Adams and Logan Ray were 1-2, with a win against Ellensburg’s Austin Ness and Ben Shissler (6-2). No. 1 doubles Jesse Black and Saul Bautista, were 0-3.
Erickson noted that Adams, Ray and Black made the jump from JV to varsity while Bautista, a senior, is playing on the team for his first year.
“For it being Saul’s first match ever, and Jesse’s first varsity match, they did well,” Erickson said. “Logan and Jared communicated very well. Logan is a taller guy and it’s harder for people to get around him.”
Erickson said Cheney had to forfeit each No. 3 doubles match because of the lack of eligible players.
Cheney’s March 14 nonleague match against Lakeland is rescheduled for a later date. The Blackhawks are set to play a road contest at Northeast A League’s Medical Lake today (March 16).
Cheney continues nonleague play through March with an away match against Mt. Spokane, March 21 and home contests against Lakeside (March 22), Davenport (March 29) and North Central (March 30). They play their first GNL match against Pullman, April 11.
“We have four more players who will be eligible to compete this week,” Erickson said. “We’re a team of 12. It’s not the most we’ve had, but we have a good group of guys with great attitudes and they’re working hard.”
Dates and times of activities are subject to change. For updated information call the Cheney High School activity line at 559-4120 or the Medical Lake High School activity line at 565-3232, goeags.com or spokanealb.com. Spokane Co. Raceway, 244-3333
TENNIS
Cheney def. Ellensburg 5-2
Singles
No. 1 — Aaron Fillmore (Cheney) def. Andrew Hull (Ellensburg) 6-3
No. 2 — Dixon Gerber (Cheney) def. Johnny Bartlett (Ellensburg) 6-3
No. 3 — Hunter Pohl (Cheney) def. Vaughn Coreis (Ellensburg) 6-3
No. 4 — Liam Thomas (Cheney) def. Riley Macy (Ellensburg) 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 — Andy Garcia and Jacob Holdeman (Ellensburg) def. Jesse Black and Saul Bautista (Cheney) 6-4
No. 2 — Jared Adams and Logan Ray (Cheney) def. Austin Ness and Ben Shissler (Ellensburg) 6-2
No. 3 — Michael Nelson and Aaron Thompson (Ellensburg) def. Cheney via forfeit
Othello def. Cheney 4-3
Singles
No. 1 — Josh Valdez (Othello) def. Aaron Fillmore (Cheney) 6-3
No. 2 — Dixon Gerber (Cheney) def. Miguel Lopez (Othello) 6-2
No. 3 — Hunter Pohl (Cheney) def. Taver Lawson (Othello) 6-3
No. 4 — Liam Thomas (Cheney) def. Tyler Wagner (Othello) 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 — Collin Freeman and Kyler Villerreal (Othello) def. Jesse Black and Saul Bautista (Cheney) 6-0
No. 2 — Palani Barragan and Sterling Roylance (Othello) def. Jared Adams and Logan Ray (Cheney) 6-1.
No. 3 — Asai Villerreal and Levi Garza (Othello) def. Cheney lost via forfeit
Moses Lake def. Cheney 5-2
Singles
No. 1 — Canon Gregoire (ML) def. Aaron Fillmore (Cheney) 6-1
No. 2 — James Zimmer (ML) def. Dixon Gerber (Cheney) 6-2
No. 3 — Hunter Pohl (Cheney) def. Trenton Vance (ML) 6-4.
No. 4 — Liam Thomas (Cheney) def. Garrett Vance (ML) 6-1.
Doubles
No. 1 — Kade Greenberg and Bryan Nyugen (ML) def. Jesse Black and Saul Bautista (Cheney) 6-4
No. 2 — Josh Banda and Gage Palmer (ML) def. Jared Adams and Logan Ray (Cheney) 6-2
No. 3 — Matthew Zimmer and Ryan Rowen (ML) def. Cheney via forfeit
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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