Mustangs notch wins at Pittsburg

PITTSBURG — Progress is being made by Iola High’s tennis players, according to head coach Lyle Kern.
The Mustangs notched four wins in the four divisions Thursday at Pittsburg High’s five-team tournament. Three came in the singles’ divisions.
“Everybody on the team is playing better. I have seen noticeable improvement each day but it really stood out in the matches (Thursday),” Kern said.
It has been awhile since the Mustangs have been on the tennis courts in competition. Weather has put them out of several tournaments since they played at home March 17.
Iola went to Independence Friday afternoon. The Mustangs play at Coffeyville Tuesday.
In No. 1 singles at Pittsburg, Garrett Catron went 2-2. He posted 8-2 victories over Seth Humble of Columbus and Andy Emerson of Labette County. Catron lost 8-3 to Ben Bristley of Fort Scott and dropped an 8-0 decision to Michael Griffin of Pittsburg.
Zeph Larney, Iola’s No. 2 singles player, lost his first two matches of the day. Larney recorded an 8-2 win over Dakota Lewis of Labette County. He lost 8-7 (7-3) to Austin Sather of Fort Scott, 8-4 to Cody Spainhower of Columbus and 8-1 to Pittsburg’s Brandon Smith.
Iola’s No. 1 doubles team of Jordan Strickler and Andrew Lowell captured their first win of the season. They beat Joel Zwablen and Ben Miller of Columbus 8-1.
Lowell and Strickler lost 8-0 to Fort Scott’s Colton Grillott and Kyle Altic and to Pittsburg’s Ryan Hall and Jake Cloninger. They lost 8-5 to Labette County’s Joshua Mathes and Conner Traxson.
In No. 2 doubles, Chris Michaels and Drew Smith lost 8-1 to Fort Scott’s Kyle Kelly and Davis Drake and Labette County’s Michael Barawetz and Caleb Webster. They lost 8-4 to Columbus’ Blake MacKensen and Drake Brassart and 8-0 to Kyle Schwenker and Sean Perkins of Pittsburg.