By Staff
HILLSBORO – They did it, the Smoky Valley boys tennis team qualified all six members for the Class 3-2-1A state tournament while they also won the team regional title.
The Vikings scored 19 team points to win the regional team championship, one point better than second-place Hesston with 18. Hutchinson Trinity, Ellsworth and Lyons rounded out the top five of a nine-team event.
The big headline was the singles competition where Smoky Valley’s Max Bieker went 4-0 on the day and defeated teammate Keaton Lieker in the championship match (6-2, 6-4) to win the regional singles championship with Lieker placing second.
Bieker was the number one seed of the regional and will take a 24-9 season record to the state meet while Lieker is now 23-10 on the season.
In doubles competition, juniors Per Nelson and Nathan Nyquist finished the day 2-2 to place fourth while Viking sophomores Gabe and Zeke Baker also went 2-2 on the day and finished sixth. Both Smoky Valley doubles teams qualified for state.
The duo of Nelson and Nyquist will take a season mark of 24-9 to the state meet while the Baker boys will head to state holding a season record of 22-11.
Wichita Collegiate will host the state Class 3-2-1A meet on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 at the Wichita Riverside Tennis Complex.
SMOKY VALLEY BOYS TENNIS at Hillsboro – Class 3-2-1A Regionals
VIKINGS RESULTS:
Team Standings > 1. VIKINGS – 19; 2. Hesston – 18; 3. Hutchinson Trinity – 10; 4. Ellsworth – 5; 5. Lyons – 2; T-6. Arma/Northeast, Ellinwood/Stafford, Hillsboro, Sterling – 0.
VIKING INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:
SINGLES > Max Bieker (sr. 24-9) finished 4-0 – 1st, (w,w,w,w).
SINGLES > Keaton Lieker (jr. 23-10) finished 3-1 – 2nd, (w,w,w,l).
DOUBLES > Per Nelson/Nathan Nyquist (jr., jr., 24-9) finished 2-2 – 4th, (w,w,l,l).
DOUBLES > Gabe Baker/Zeke Baker (so., so., 22-11) finished 2-2 – 6th, (w,l,w,l).
(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)