INDEPENDENCE — With just seven players on the team, it’s tough when one calls in sick.
Iola High’s Mustang tennis team opened the 2012 season without its No. 1 singles player. Zeph Larney, a junior, was ill which moved junior Jordan Strickler up into the No. 1 singles slot for Tuesday’s matches at Independence High’s five-team meet.
“Jordan was impressive at No. 1 singles. When his serve was landing, he would win,” said Lyle Kern, Mustang head coach.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs did not record a match win on the day.
“Everyone showed good hustle. Three of our five players were playing for their first time at a meet,” Kern said. “A couple of those had only played tennis for about two weeks in their lives.”
Strickler lost 8-4 to Hank Cloninger of Pittsburg and 8-4 to Bryce Daly of Fort Scott. He dropped an 8-3 decision to Chanute’s Ian Cheshier then lost 8-2 to Independence’s Ty Schabel.
Playing as Iola’s No. 1 doubles team were first-year players senior Brad Bazo and junior Stephen McDonald. They lost 8-0 to Pittsburg’s Sean Perkins and Jake Cloninger and to Independence’s Patrick hard and Josh Hilger.
Bazo and McDonald managed to win a set each in matches with Fort Scott and Chanute. They lost 8-1 to both Fort Scott’s Davis Drake and Gage Addington and to Chanute’s Tyler Dillow and Jefferson Holmes.
Juniors Drew Smith and Hayden Wolf were Iola’s No. 2 doubles team. Smith is a returner and Wolf is a new player. They too went 0-4 and won a set each against Fort Scott and Chanute.
Smith and Wolf lost 8-0 to both Pittsburg’s Kaleb Konek and Jake Creech and to Independence’s Drake King and Brennan Gordon. They lost 8-1 to Fort Scott’s Matt Hull and Michael Flater and to Chanute’s Ryan Madden and Cornell Littleton.
“All in all, I thought we did fine,” Kern said. “We will continue to work on serves and return of serves as well as reinforcing the basics.”
The Mustangs host Columbus, Parsons and Independence Thursday. Matches begin at 3 p.m. at the tennis courts northeast of Iola High School.
