Perennial powers Wichita Collegiate, Hesston and Smoky Valley placed 1-2-3 with 69, 56 and 55 points, respectively.

Hillsboro finished with 45 points, followed by Ellinwood (41), Hoisington (24), Sterling (18) and Nickerson and Haven (15 each).

Hillsboro's doubles-partners-turned-singles-players Kyle Kroeker and Macy Fadenrecht had the best day at Lindsborg, placing second in No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.

Kroeker defeated Ochs of Hoisington 9-2 and Montisano of Haven 8-4, 6-0 before losing 3-6, 6-7 (4-7) to Collegiate's Bo Dunne.

"Kyle was playing the best tennis I've seen him play ever," coach Kory Unruh said of the title match. He said an impending rain storm pressured Kroeker and Dunne to complete their match quickly.

"Kyle put the final ball into the net and then the rain just poured-that's how close it was," Unruh said.

Fadenrecht, meanwhile, defeated Stout of Sterling 1-9 and DeWitt of Smoky Valley 6-0, 6-2 before losing to John Dunne from Collegiate 1-6, 0-6.

"We did the change (from doubles to singles) last week during our week off," Unruh said. "That was a good thing. We got them feeling comfortable. As of now it seems like it paid off. Our team is stronger because of it."

In No. 1 doubles, Robert Jost and Peter Fast placed sixth. They lost to Kahler and Chambers of Smoky Valley in the first round, 1-9, then defeated Clardy and Maxwell of Nickerson 9-8 (7-3) before losing to Hoffman and Polzin of Hoisington for the battle for fifth.

In No. 2 doubles, Rick Johnson and Caleb Barkman placed seventh. They lost to Halle and Jansen of Hesston 1-9 and Polzin and Goetz of Hoisington 8-9 (6-8) before defeating Howard and Brock of Haven 1-9.

"Our league's loaded, of course," Unruh said. "I got some pretty goods seeds for our singles players, but knew our doubles teams would struggle with the draw they got."

Sterling-The Trojans placed second at the eight-team Sterling Varsity Invitational May 10.

Hillsboro's 60 points was second to Claflin's 66. The two teams were followed by Hoisington (45), Haven and Sterling (32), Fairfield (20), Ellsworth (13) and Nickerson (12).

"Claflin was the Class 3-2-1A runner-up last year," coach Kory Unruh said. "So we showed with our lineup that we could battle with anybody."

Macy Fadenrecht led the Trojans with a first-place finish in No. 2 singles. He defeated Williamson of Sterling 8-1, Leibl of Claflin 8-3 and Stoslopf of Hoisington 6-1, 6-2.

Kyle Kroeker, battling some physical ailments, placed second in No. 1 singles. He defeated Bailey of Ellsworth 8-2 and Montisano of Haven 8-6 before losing to Bieberly of Claflin 1-6, 0-6.

In No. 1 doubles, Peter Fast and Robert Jost placed second. They defeated Kohls and Rathburn of Ellsworth 8-2 and Erebo and Brown of Sterling 8-6 before losing to Kirmer and Connell of Claflin 4-6, 6-3 in the championship match.

"They played great," Unruh said. "That was the best they've played all year."

Hillsboro's No. 2 team of Rick Johnson and Ben Heyen placed third. They defeated Howard and Brock of Haven 8-7 (7-2), then lost to Hickel and Hickel of Claflin 1-8 before beating Groth and Poole of Fairfield 3-6, 6-3 (7-3).

Hillsboro-The Trojans' split squad placed second and eighth at the eight-team Hillsboro Tennis Invitational Monday at the Sports Complex.

For Hillsboro Gold, Kyle Kroeker won No. 1 singles and Macy Fadenrecht won No. 2 singles.

In doubles, Robert Jost and Peter Fast placed third for the Gold team. In No. 2 doubles, Rick Johnson and Caleb Barkman placed fourth.

For Hillsboro Red, Ben Heyen placed seventh in No. 2 singles. Mark Prieb and Matthew Brown lost all three of their matches in No. 1 doubles, as did Michael Bosworth and Ben Bosworth in No. 2 doubles.

A more complete report of the tournament appeared in the May 12 Free Press Extra.