VIKINGS WIN OWN TENNIS CLASSIC

By Staff

            LINDSBORG – On Tuesday the Smoky Valley boys tennis team hosted an eight-team invitational, the Smoky Valley Classic, where they scored a runaway team victory while winning the singles competition as well.

            As a team, the Vikings rolled up 64 points, well ahead of second-place Hesston with 40 and third-place Clay Center who finished with 38. Wichita Collegiate rounded out the top four with 24 points.

            Overall, all four Vikings placed in the top three, led by Max Bieker in singles as he finished the day 3-0 including an 8-7 nail biting victory in the singles finals match over teammate Keaton Leiker. Bieker had a first round by before earning wins over players from Concordia and Hesston leading up to the finals match.

Leiker won his first three matches over Abilene, Pratt and Wichita Collegiate before facing down his teammate in the Classic finals.

In doubles, the duo of Gabe and Zeke Baker finished second on the day, losing 3-8 to a Deutschendorf and Dahlsten of Hesston in the finals. When the Bakers reached the semifinals they had to earn an 8-4 win over teammates Per Nelson and Nathan Nyquist to reach the finals.

            As for the combo of Nelson and Nyquist, the barred through their first match over Concordia, snuck past a match with Hesston before losing to Viking teammates Baker and Baker, then finished their day with an 8-2 win over a tandem from Clay Center.

            Next up for the Viking boys tennis team will be a road trip to Hillsboro on Thursday.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS CLASSIC RESULTS:

TEAM STANDINGS: 1. VIKINGS 64, 2. Hesston 40, 3. Clay Center 38, 4. Wichita Collegiate 24, 5. Pratt 11, 6. Concordia 10, 7. Abilene 9, 8. Hillsboro 2.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

SINGLES >

Max Bieker – 1^st, W > Bye, W > 8-3 (Concordia), W > 8-5 (Hesston), W > 8-7 (Smoky Valley).

Keaton Leiker  – 2^nd, W > 8-1 (Abilene), @ > 8-1 (Pratt), W > 8-3 (Wichita Collegiate), L – 7-8 (Smoky Valley).

DOUBLES >

Gabe Baker/Zeke Baker – 2^nd, W > 8-0 (Hillsboro), W > 8-1 (Clay Center), W > 8-4 (Smoky Valley), L 3-8 (Hesston).

Per Nelson/Nathan Nyquist – 3^rd, W > 8-1 (Concordia), W > 8-6 (Hesston), L > 4-8 (Smoky Valley, W > 8-2 (Clay Center).

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)