By PAUL DELANEY
Staff Reporter
Just as their counterpart on the girls' team found, the Medical Lake boys' tennis team learned that Clarkston still reigns supreme in Great Northern League tennis circles.
That lesson was made known last Tuesday when the Cardinals dropped a 7-0 decision to the defending GNL and district champion Bantams, who scored a lop-sided win last Tuesday on the road. Medical Lake evened its record for the week, and in the Great Northern League, with a 7-0 romp at Deer Park.
Two-set victories were the norm in singles. No. 1 singles, Leon Johnson, fell 3-6, 5-7 to Dustin McConnell. Noel Ayos dropped a No. 2 singles game in two sets, 5-7, 1-6 to Drew Adams. Bryan Smith lost 5-7, 2-6 to No. 3 Michael Mackay while No. 4 Austin Schoonover fell 1-6, 3-6 to Derek Young.
“We played a very competitive match among two of the league's tennis elites,” coach Justin Blayne said.
“Clarkston's team is well coached and very consistent,” he said.
The No. 1 doubles team of Danny Klopfenstein and Jason Hayes, fell 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-7 (5-7) to Nick VanCleave and Shawn Callahan. Brenden Heikkila and Dan Herrera dropped identical 1-6, 1-6 games to Mitch Carey and Jordan Jones in No. 2 doubles. Patrick Denman and Sean Chavez fell 2-6, 3-6 to Jace Kessler and Boden Port in the No. 3 doubles duel.
Each set in the No. 1 doubles' match-up went to a tiebreaker. ML won the first but Clarkston took the second and third. “It was a very close match that could have gone either way,” Blayne said.
Thursday's home win at Deer Park was equally as one-sided, but this time in the Cardinals' favor. No. 1 singles Leon Johnson scored a 6-0, 6-3 win over Jason Henning. Noel Ayos at No. 2 took a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Cody Chambers. No. 3. Bryan Smith won 6-0, 6-1 over Dayne Burrell and No. 4. Austin Schoonover got a 6-0, 6-2 win over Keith Sherman
“We bounced back well from Tuesday's loss and played great tennis,” Blayne said. “The kids were focused and prepared.” That may not have been more evident than in the three doubles' matches where the Cardinals surrendered just a single point.
The No. 1 doubles team of Klopfenstein and Hayes dominated for 6-0, 6-0 straight-set win over Matt O'Brien and Blake Harlan. Heikilla and Patrick Denman scored a similar 6-0, 6-0 win over Tim Greene and Greg Sherman at No. 2 doubles. No.4. Dan Herrera and Sean Chavez won 6-0, 6-1 over Avery Thaebert and Ryan Wolf.
Medical Lake faced Pullman in a home match this past Tuesday and then travels to face West Valley in Millwood today (Thursday, April 16) at 3:45 p.m.
Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com
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