The Cheney High boy’s tennis team began its season on a high note March 13 after they went 3-0 at a jamboree in Moses Lake with wins over the Chiefs, 4-3, Ellensburg 5-2 and Othello, 4-3.
Britton Williams, who spent most of last season playing singles and doubles, fared well at the No. 3 singles, winning all three of his matches. He shutout Ethan Shields (6-0) then went on to win close matches over Ein Taylor (6-4) and Davis Hernandez (6-5, 7-2).
In other singles action, Ryan Smedley, a senior playing on varsity for the first time, went 2-1 in the No. 1 spot. After a loss to Tim Miller (3-6), Smedley won a close match against Diego Villarreal (6-4) and followed it up with a victory over Canon Gregoire (6-1).
At the No. 4 spot, Brandon Foster went 2-1, with both of his wins being shutouts over Nick Dehollander (6-0) and Andres Lima (6-0). Ryan Axtell, who is playing his third year on varsity, went 1-2 at the No. 2 spot, winning only his second match by beating Jonathan DeLeon (6-1).
“Axtell struggled a little bit and Smedley did well for his first time playing,” head coach Jesse Erickson said. “Some of our guys were also working hard in the offseason.”
In doubles action, Jordan Kauwe and Luke Huguenin went 2-1 with close wins over Sam Lanza and Jake Andrews (6-5, 7-2) and Vaughn Koreis and Omar Robles (6-4).
Dirk Ray and Jay T. Gould, who teamed up for the first time at the No. 3 spot, picked up wins over Slate Hagerman and Tommy Savage (6-0) and Kade Greenburg and Kenny Osbourn (6-2). Adam Passey and Shogo Starr, who returned to No.1 doubles, went 1-2, with their only win being a shut out over Ben Wood and Tommy Hyatt (6-0).
“There was effort across the board, I was proud of my guys,” Erickson said.
Cheney continues nonleague play on the road this week with a March 17 match against Greater Spokane League’s Shadle Park, followed by a match against Northeast A League’s Medical Lake today, march 17 at 3 p.m. The Blackhawks continue to ride the momentum of last season where they finished with an 8-7 record and fourth place in the Great Northern League.
“We took a lot away from the jamboree,” Erickson said. “We know what we need to work on but we looked a lot better that day than we have in the past.”
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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