Hornets Tennis
5/8/2015 MEC Singles and
Doubles Tournament
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(Story by
Coach Robert Long)
One day after clinching the MEC regular season crown,
the Chillicothe Hornet Tennis team (13-2) traveled to St
Joseph for MEC individual tournament competition. Gabe Poling
received the number one seed in singles. He received a bye in
the first round and defeated Joe Suchan of Maryville 8-0 in
round two. In the scorebook, Gabe's third round victory over
John Lierz of LeBlond looked one-sided, but the 8-1 win was
tightly contested by the smooth swinging Lierz. A familiar foe
on the season awaited Gabe in the championship match, Steven
Mears of LeBlond. Gabe had defeated the athletic Mears 8-1 in
the dual played at Danner Park and 10-3 in the Benton
Invitational. Mears got out to an early 2-1 lead, then Poling
won five of the next six games taking the first set 6-3. The
stubborn Mears continued fighting in the second set tying it
up at 5-5. Just when it looked as if a tie-breaker would have
to solve things, Gabe won the final two games and his second
MEC singles crown 6-3, 7-5. Gabe commented that each time he
plays the LeBlond number one, Steven gets better and closer.
Brandon Lamp played in Chillicothe's number two singles
position. Brandon defeated Bostyn Horn of Benton 8-4 in round
one. The first round match was played indoors due to an early
shower. Brandon lost to the third seed and Maryville's number
one player Michael Farlow 3-8 in round two. Brandon played his
best match of the season. On Thursday night Brandon won the
quickest match of the season and against Farlow he played his
longest match of the season. Hornet Lamp and Spoofhound Farlow
are both defensive players, generally frustrating their
opponents. Every point and game was contested, with Brandon
coming up on the losing side too often. In consolation play,
Brandon beat Wesly Sisk of Lafayette 8-0. Then in the
consolation semi-finals Brandon ran out of steam in his
comeback bid, losing 6-8 to Spencer Rosenak of Savannah.
Garrett Peterson and Nate McKiddy received the number
two seed in the doubles competition. After receiving a bye in
the opening round they faced Spencer Joe and Sean Davis of
LeBlond in round two. The Hornet duo made quick work of the
pair winning 8-1. In the semi-final, Garrett and Nate faced
Miller Hadley and Gentry Cline of Lafayette for the second
time this week. The Hornets claiming the first meeting 8-2 in
Chillicothe on Tuesday, May 5. Peterson and McKiddy won the
first set easily 6-2, but the second set was all tied up at
3-3 before Garrett and Nate pulled away winning 6-2, 6-3. In
the final awaited the number one seed Craig Helm and Chase
Furgison of Savannah. The same pair that defeated Gabe Poling
and Brandon Lamp 8-0 in the dual at Savannah. Peterson and
McKiddy fought for every point, but the first set went 3-6 to
Helm and Furgison. In the second set Garrett and Nate were
able to neutralize the hard hitting Savannah duo, evening the
match with a 6-3 win. Despite beginning the third set 0-3, the
Hornets were losing each game in the no-ad scoring by only one
or two points. With four of the next five games going their
way, it was knotted at 4-4. Peterson and McKiddy made the
plays in the final two games and won the doubles championship
3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Cody Evans and Lane Bonderer played in the number two
doubles spot. Cody and Lane opened up the tournament indoors
defeating Teddy Sommers and Andy Burns of LeBlond 8-3. In
round two, Cody and Lane kept the Maryville pair of Trystan
Lyle and Cody Hermelink off balance. However, in a tough
defeat, Chillicothe lost
8-9 (7-9). Evans and Bonderer bounced
back winning easily 8-0 in the consolation bracket against
Austin Wethered and Spencer Hendrix of Benton. The Hornet pair
defeated Gage Zeit and David Curtis of Cameron 9-8 (7-4) in
the consolation semi-final. Winning the consolation
championship and fifth place in doubles competition, Cody and
Lane beat Tyler Coleman and Taylor Wallace of Maryville 9-7.
Another tremendous day for the Hornet tennis program.
Gabe is now 22-0 on the season. Garrett Peterson and Nate
McKiddy played their best tennis to date. Brandon Lamp has
proved he can be competitive with anyone in the MEC. Cody
Evans and Lane Bonderer playing together for the first time,
were one point from the semi-finals, and came back from
heart-break to take fifth place. The Hornets have now won the
Cameron Tournament, the Benton Invitational, and took first
place in singles and doubles at the MEC tournament. Team
district play begins Tuesday at home against the winner of
Trenton and Richmond.
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