INDEPENDENCE — The Iola High tennis team took fifth place in Independence Friday.
Independence, Chanute and Fort Scott rounded out the top three team placements while Labette County took fourth place.
“The wind would move the ball in the air and on the ground and was very tough to adjust to, especially for new players,” said Iola head coach Chris Belknap. “We kept our spirits up and enjoyed the day as best we could, but it was a rough day for tennis.”
Ethan Riebel and Trapper Boren matched up in singles action while Brody Thompson and Payton Kern as well as Zach Pfaff and Luke Wicoff each competed in doubles.
Riebel lost to Chanute’s Noah Vogel, 8-2, before he fell to Indy’s Owen Clapp, 8-0. Riebel lost to Fort Scott’s David Jones, 8-2, and fell to Labette County’s Kendall Green, 8-7.
Boren first came up short against Chanute’s Ayden Cummings, 8-0, before he lost to Independence’s Tucker Gregory, 8-0. The freshman then lost his final two matches to Fort Scott’s Kaiden Clary, 8-1, before falling to Labette County’s Layton Vail, 8-3.
“Trapper is new to singles and is really coming along,” said Belknap.
Thompson and Kern lost to Chanute’s duo of Ethan Burnett and Parker Henson, 8-1, and then lost to Independence’s Carson Merrick and Aiden Denny, 8-0. The Mustangs also lost to Fort Scott’s Casey Gomez and Jaxen DeMott, 8-4.
In the duo’s final matchup with Labette County’s Ector Garnica and Jaxson Vaughan, they fell 8-0.
“This freshman duo is learning all sorts of strategies for doubles tennis that will make them a fighting force going forward,” Belknap said. “Zach and Luke are both new to varsity and are learning doubles strategies and tactics.”
Pfaff and Wicoff competed against Chanute’s Blaine Smoot and Luke Becknell and lost, 8-0. The pair then came up short to Indy’s Zach Scott and Matthew McLenon, 8-0. The Mustangs also fell to Fort Scott’s Malachi Larsen and Mykael Lewis, 8-4.
The duo dropped their final match to Labette County’s Gabe Lunsford and Caleb McKee, 8-5.
Iola competes at Chanute on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
