Trojan tennis team 3rd at home invitational

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
The Hillsboro tennis team finished third at its own seven-team invitational tournament Monday at the Sports Complex.

The Trojans racked up 51 points to finish behind Wichita Trinity with and Hesston, both with 57. Wichita Trinity was declared the winner by virtue of a better game percentage.

Trailing the Trojans were Wichita Independent with 44, Neodesha 27, Wichita Collegiate (B team) 26, and Fairfield 6.

Brandon Ratzlaff was the highest Trojan finisher, placing second in No. 1 singles. He won his first two sets by identical 8-3 scores, then lost to Jones of Wichita Independent in the finals, 4-8.

Eric Weinbrenner finished fifth, losing 5-8 in the first round, but coming back with 8-2 and 8-3 wins in the consolation brackets.

The No. 1 doubles team of Adam Driggers and Jesse Janzen placed third. They won their opening match before losing in the semifinals, 5-8. The duo came back to win the battle for third, 8-4.

In No. 2 doubles, Caleb Dirks and Jordan Woelk placed second by winning their first two matches, 8-3 and 8-2, before losing to Hesston, 5-8.

On Friday, an undermanned Trojan team competed in the MCAA league tournament in Hesston, placing fourth.

Hillsboro battled without three members of its starting lineup. Weinbrenner, Dirks and Jordan participated in a music field trip to Colorado.

Ratzlaff placed third in No. 1 singles. He won his opening match against Sandbo of Smoky Valley, 7-5, 6-3, before losing a hard-fought battle to Kevin Sullivan of Collegiate, 4-6, 6-4, 4-6. Ratzlaff came back to beat Shane Miller of Haven for third place, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Sullivan went on to win the singles title in straight sets over Steve Claassen of Hesston.

Driggers and Janzen finished sixth in No. 1 doubles. They lost to Smoky Valley in the opening round, 2-6, 0-6, before coming back to beat a team from Haven (9-3), then losing to Sterling in the battle for fifth.

The Trojans will enter regional play at Hillsboro next Monday. Matches begin at 7:30 a.m.

More from article archives
Warriors dominate second half in win over Bears
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL Coach Grant Thierolf said if Sterling was going...
Read More