Ark Valley News - Middle school tennis third at league tournament

The Valley Center Middle School tennis team was third in the Pioneer League II Tournament May 11.

Middle school tennis third at league tournament
By The News staff
Last Updated: May 14, 2015

The Valley Center Middle School tennis team wrapped up its season with a third-place finish in the Pioneer League II Tournament May 11 at Eisenhower. Andover Central was first and Eisenhower second.

"Ten of the 12 players won league medals," said assistant coach Kenny Carter. "The No. 2 doubles team was both seventh-graders who had moved up throughout the season and lost a couple of close matches to older teams."

Brandon McClure went 5-0 to win No. 2 singles. Taking second were Colby Swift at No. 1 and Hayden Brauer at No. 3, both with 4-1 records. Valley's No. 4 singles player, Josiah Farney, was fourth.

In doubles competition, Valley's No. 4 team of Jeremiah Strunk and Matthew Patterson went 4-1 to finish second. Going 3-2 were Kyle Stamm and Nathan Schaar, who took third at No. 3. Gavin Fitch and Logan Snyder went 2-3 to finish fourth at No. 1, while Braden Ruble and Ethan Phillips were 1-4 and placed fifth at No. 2.

"Rob (Glenn) and I enjoyed coaching and being around a really vibrant and hard working group of young men this year," Carter said. "We started the season with 28 kids and finished with 28 kids, and everyone improved throughout the season.

Valley closed out its regular season in a rain-shortened triangular May 5 at Eisenhower. The Hornets dominated their match with Newton, but rain canceled some of the matches against the Tigers, with the Hornets having won everything to that point.

Against the Railers, Valley won 11 of 14 matches, going 8-2 in singles and 3-1 in doubles.

Singles winners for the Hornets were No. 1 Swift 6-1, No. 3 Fitch 6-3, No. 4 Stamm 6-2, No. 5 Ruble 6-2, No. 6 Schaar 6-2, No. 8 Strunk 6-1, No. 9 Brauer 6-2 and No. 10 Elijah Thornton 6-2. McClure dropped a 6-5 (8-6) decision at No. 2, and Snyder lost 6-3 at No. 7.

Doubles competition saw Valley's top three teams post wins. Swift and McClure won 6-1 at No. 1, Fitch and Snyder 6-2 at No. 2, and Ruble and Phillips 6-2 at No. 3. Stamm and Schaar lost 6-3 at No. 4.

Against Eisenhower, Valley Center won all five matches completed and was leading in the sixth when it was halted due to the rain.

In singles, both Patterson and Thornton posted 6-4 victories, Farney won two matches by identical 6-0 scores, and Josh Dessenberger and Jace Crass each blanked their opponents by 6-0 tallies. Dessenberger and Crass were leading 3-2 in doubles when the rain stopped their match.

Glenn will not be at VCMS next year, as he will be on active duty with the military.

"Coach Glenn has served as either our head or assistant tennis coach for about 10 years now and has been a real positive influence and role model for all of the kids," Carter said. "The program will not be the same or near as much fun next year while he is deployed overseas."