CHANUTE — Iola High’s tennis team is starting to wonder how to get on Mother Nature’s good side.
The Mustangs were greeted once again Tuesday by cold, windy conditions at the Chanute Invitational.
“It’s not a good trend,” head coach Chris Belknap admitted. “Hopefully, that will change.”
On top of the cold weather, Iola also had to contend with some of the toughest teams in this part of the state.
The Iola squads dropped each of their first two pool play matches before the doubles teams of Ethan Riebel and Brody Thompson in one division and Konner Larney and Donovan Nee in the other broke into the win column.
Riebel and Thompson teamed up to defeat Fort Scott’s Malachi Larsen and Mykael Lewis, 8-2.
In No. 2 doubles action, Larney and Nee teamed up to defeat Ottawa’s Danny Sorensen and Bristol Aikors, 8-1.
Iola returns to the courts Thursday in Pittsburg. The Mustang junior varsity squad will get its first taste of action Monday in Parsons.
Iola’s results follow:
Chanute Invitational
Payton Kern — No. 1 singles
Zach Scott, Independence, def. Kern, 8-0
Noah Vogel, Chanute, def. Kern, 8-2
Jaxon Mourning, Ottawa, def. Kern, 8-1
Trapper Boren — No. 2. Singles
Tyson Martinez, Independence, def. Boren, 8-3
Blaine Smoot, Chanute, def. Boren, 8-1
Jamie Winslow, Ottawa, def. Boren, 8-4
Ethan Riebel and Brody Thompson — No. 1 doubles
Matthew McLenon and Keith Sanders, Independence, def. Riebel and Thompson, 8-1
Ethan Burnett and Ayden Cummings, Chanute, def. Riebel and Thompson, 8-1
Riebel and Thompson def. Malachi Larsen and Mykael Lewis, 8-2
Konner Larney and Donovan Nee — No. 2 doubles
Josh Lowry and Hesston Smith, Independence, def. Larney and Nee, 8-1
