Ark Valley News - Seniors make Valley Center tennis history

Valley Center senior Triston Herbst returns a volley against Maize South in the third-place match May 11 in Newton.

Seniors make Valley Center tennis history
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: May 17, 2015

Three seniors are going to state.

Ray Strunk, Triston Herbst and Nathan Jones will represent Valley Center High School at the Class 5A state tennis tournament May 15 in Goddard.

"I am so happy to be going to state," said Herbst, part of Valley Center's doubles team with Jones. "And I'm kind of going in with the mentality that there's nothing to lose, play with everything we've got ... very aggressive, leaving nothing behind."

This is the second straight year for Strunk to qualify in singles play.

"I love it," he said. "I never thought I would come this far in a couple years. Just a couple years ago, if you would've told me that I would be a two-time state qualifier, I would have probably thought you were joking."

A four-year varsity player, this will be Jones' first trip to state.

"It's pretty nice," Jones said. "I lost the first round my first three years at regionals, so it's nice to finally make it."

With the threat of inclement weather May 9, tournament officials moved the Class 5A regional tennis tournament scheduled for that day in Newton to May 11. The weather cooperated on the new date.

"Our performance overall was spotty," Valley coach Dean Schulz said. "At times we played very well and other times we played uninspired. Jos (Wocher) played the most consistent. Nathan and Triston played the best in the third-place match."

Strunk became the first Valley Center singles player to qualify in back-to-back years since Tyler Dort and David Alley did in 2008 and 2009.

Herbst and Jones are the first Valley boys' doubles team to qualify since 1999. Schulz, who has coached the Hornets for 33 years, said he believes this is the first time singles and doubles have qualified in the same year.

"My two best friends are going to state with me," Strunk said. "I don't know how much more I could say about that. They've put in the work. Triston has really changed this team. He is the most improved player I've ever seen. They're going to be something to see at state. I'm excited."

Strunk, the six-seed, opened the 14-entry regional draw with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Aaron Rodriquez of Great Bend before losing to third-seeded Zach Woods of Maize South 6-4, 6-0. In the consolation bracket, Strunk went 6-2, 6-2 in beating seven-seed Francisco Martinez of Wichita Heights to clinch a return trip to state. Unfortunately, Strunk lost 7-5, 6-2 to the four-seed, Kerry Dunn of Heights, in the fifth-place match.

The top six placers qualified for state.

"Ray played to his seed in a very tough singles draw," Schulz said. "Ray played all his matches tough."

Strunk said it was a difficult bracket.

"Obviously again, we were stuck with the toughest regional," he said. "That's what we get around this area all the time. I knew coming in it was going to be tough. I knew what I had to do, and I did what I had to do, I guess, and snuck in there. It was nice."

Seeded second, Herbst and Jones had a first-round bye before battling to defeat Bishop Carroll 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. Newton's Adam Ford and Jerod Fox downed the Hornets 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the semifinals.

After winning the first set, Valley Center had three match points in the second set but couldn't close it out to make it to the finals.

In the third-place match, Herbst and Jones trailed Maize South 5-2 in the first set before coming back to win 7-5, 6-1.

Strunk, Herbst and Jones said their goal is to make it to the second day of the state tournament, which would mean at least a top-12 finish.

"We'll have to play well to do it, but if there's ever a time for us to do it, it will be then," Herbst said.

"I think placing is realistic," Jones said.

"It's never going to be easy, obviously, coming into the state tournament," Strunk added. "These are the best players in the state of Kansas. But I know what I have to do. I have a potential match against somebody that I played last year at state. The goal is the second day."

Valley's other regional entrants — senior Jos Wocher in singles and senior Chance Berschauer and junior Colton Jones in doubles — each went 1-2 to see their seasons end.

Wocher eased by Carroll's Caden Swinicki 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, but lost 6-1, 6-2 to the top seed, Max Dechamps of Newton. In the qualifying match, Wocher lost 6-1, 6-4 to Dunn of Heights.

Berschauer and Jones, the three seed, also opened with a win — 6-2, 6-2 over Liberal. Valley lost 6-3, 7-5 to Newton's Ford and Fox in the semifinals, and then lost 6-4, 6-2 in the qualifying match to Carroll.

The regional team championship went to Newton, ranked third in 5A, with 19 points. Bishop Carroll was second with 12 points, and Valley Center third with nine points.

No matter what happens at state, Strunk, Herbst and Jones said they were proud of their team's accomplishments this season — second at the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II tournament, second at a 6A-dominated Topeka tournament and champions at Emporia as well as several other smaller tournaments.

"We came into the season with high expectations, but actually fulfilling the expectations week in and week out was surprising," Strunk said. "Beating Manhattan at Topeka was the highlight of the regular season. Coming one point from winning league. We consistently finished above other ranked teams in the state, and we showed that we're worthy of being here. ... There was stuff that was left undone, but we did better than anyone ever expected."

"It's been great," Herbst said. "To be one of the more successful teams in Valley has been really nice and especially in the history of Valley Center tennis. It means a lot, knowing that we're going to leave an impact on the team."

The Class 5A state tennis tournament is May 15 and 16 at Goddard High School. First-round matches start at 10:30 a.m. May 15.