Singles key at home invite

HHStenTroInvHarry992

HHStenTroInvHarry992

Strong performances in singles helped the Hillsboro tennis team to a fourth-place finish April 17 at the eight-team Trojan Invitational.

Sterling won the home tournament with 61 points, followed by Wichita Independent (59), Hesston (45), Hillsboro (38), Wichita Trinity (28), Neodesha (23) and Wichita Collegiate (15).

Harry Faber won No. 2 singles by defeating Kyle Cheshier of Neodesha 8-0, Jake Jaderston of Sterling 8-7 (1) and Isaac Penner of Hesston 8-7 (4).

?It was neat to see Harry play so well and win the tournament championship here at home,? coach Stuart Holmes said. ?I?ve been impressed with Harry?s determination to keep fighting in tough matches, and it paid off in both the semifinals and the finals as he came from behind, making some excellent plays to manage to win each match in a tiebreaker.?

Grant Shewey, meanwhile, placed third in No. 1 singles. He defeated Robin Sichtling of Neodesha 8-2, lost to eventual champion Edo Martelli of Sterling via Italy, 8-0, then defeated Eric Armstrong of Trinity 8-1.

?As an example of how much Grant has been improving, he won the third-place match 8-1 versus a guy Grant lost to 8-5 earlier this year,? Holmes said.

In No. 1 doubles, Daniel Gray and Jeff Pritchard claimed fifth place while Ty Carey and Tyler Funk went 0-3 for eighth-place in No. 2 doubles.

Gray and Pritchard lost to Fyfe and Railsback of Neodesha 8-3 in the first round, then defeated Gibel and Lloyd from Independent 8-6 and Dieckhoff and Corrigan of Collegiate 8-4.

?Jeff and Daniel displayed some of their best tennis of the year,? Holmes said.

Carey and Funk lost 8-0 to both Cullop and Fair of Sterling and Farmer and Warrington of Neodesha before falling to Kieth and Cheshier of Neodesha 8-2.

?Overall, as a team it was great to see the hard work in practice pay off, as today the guys won four matches over players that earlier this year or last year we had lost to,? Holmes said.

Circle?Grant Shewey went 3-0 to claim first place in No. 1 singles at the Circle Quadrangular April 16.

?Grant?s game has really been improving in practice lately, which led to his improved performance at Circle.?

Harry Faber went 2-1 in No. 2 singles to earn a medal, while the No. 1 doubles team of Jeff Pritchard and Daniel Gray went 1-2 and the No. 2 team of Tyler Funk and River Cecil lost all three matches.

Coming?Hillsboro was scheduled to compete Tuesday in the Hesston Invitational. The Tro?jans? next competition will be the Central Kansas League tournament Monday at the Sports Complex. Matches begin at 9 a.m.

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