VIKING NETTERS PLACE 2ND AT HILLSBORO

By Staff

            HILLSBORO – On Thursday, the Smoky Valley boys tennis team went to the Hillsboro Invitational and scored two individual titles while finishing second in the team standings by just one point.

            In a constant battle between the Vikings and Wichita Classical, including the two teams splitting a pair of individual titles, Smoky Valley finished the day with 61 points while Wichita Classical had 62. Conway Springs finished a distant third with 40 points while Hutchinson Trinity ended up fourth in the eight-team field.

            It was rough start for the Vikings as Max Bieker placed third in number one singles after winning his first math 8-0, losing his second match 5-8 and then bouncing back to earn an 8-1 win over Dylan Stevens of Conway Springs in the third-place match.

            At number two singles, Keaton Leiker went 3-0 on the day to win the division. Leiker scored dominating 8-1, 8-2 wins in his first two matches before gaining an 8-4 victory over Collin Branan of Wichita Classical for the first place medal.

            The Bakers, Gabe and Zeke, placed second in number one doubles as they went 2-1, losing to Charlie Graham and Isaac Yourdon of Wichita Classical.

            Smoky Valley closed out the day with a championship at number two doubles with Per Nelson and Nate Nyquist going 3-0 and beating Sid Leep and James Wellner of Circle, 8-2 for the division title.

            Next up on the schedule for the Viking boys tennis team will come on Tuesday, April 11 when they travel to Salina for the Salina Central Invitational.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKING BOYS TENNIS at Hillsboro Invitational

VIKING TEAM RESULTS:

Team Standings > 1. Wichita Classical – 62, 2. VIKINGS – 61, 3. Conway Springs – 40, 4. Hutchinson Trinity – 38, 5. Circle – 35, 6. Chapman – 26, T-7. Hillsboro – 6, T-7. Sterling – 6.

VIKING INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

#1 Singles > Max Bieker – 3^rd, finished 2-1 with W (8-0), L (5-8), W (8-1 over Dylan Stevens of Conway Springs).

#2 Singles > Keaton Leiker – 1^st, finished 3-0 with W (8-1), W (8-2), W (8-4 over Collin Branan of Wichita Classical).

#1 Doubles > Gabe Baker/Zeke Baker – 2^nd, finished 2-1 with W (8-4), W (8-6), L (3-8 to Charlie Graham/Isaac Yourdon of Wichita Classical).

#2 Doubles > Per Nelson/Nate Nyquist – 1^st, finished 3-0 with W (8-1), W (8-4), W (8-2 over Sid Leep/James Wellner of Circle).

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