Warren County High School’s tennis team aced a preseason test Monday as both the girls and boys slipped past Van Buren County.
The Lady Pioneers won 4-2, while the Pioneers won 4-3 at David Dunlap Tennis Complex in McMinnville.
Coach David Dunlap has high expectations for the girls team, which didn’t lose any players to graduation. He says there are several new faces on the boys team, but he expects the Pioneers to be competitive.
“The girls team should be pretty good this year, but I think if you look at our district there should be several strong girls teams,” said coach Dunlap. “All of our girls got to play a lot last year and we have two freshmen, Susanna Netherton and London Caten, who are in our top five.”
Rachel Jackson played in the No. 1 spot for the Lady Pioneers and captured a commanding 8-0 shutout win. All the Warren County singles players won in convincing fashion, even in the absence of usual No. 1 player Elena Rowland.
In boys action, the Pioneers scratched out a 4-3 victory behind an 8-0 shutout win from Kamrin McLaughlin playing in No. 3 singles.
McLaughlin and Luke Winkler are newcomers to the tennis team, but both are athletic and should bring endurance to the court after running on the WCHS cross country team this fall.
Mitchell Caten moves into the No. 1 spot and Colin Riley will usually play as the No. 2.
Warren County vs. Van Buren County
GIRLS
Singles
No. 1 – WC Rachel Jackson beats Mackenna Hillis, 8-0
No. 2 – WC Caroline Stewart beats Makena Davis, 8-2
No. 3 – WC Susanna Netherton beats Abby Osborne, 8-1
Doubles
No. 1 – WC Elizabeth Templos and London Caten beat Hillis and Davis, 8-3
No. 2 – WC Tor Davis and Emma Dillon fall to Jaden Mihelic and Osborne, 8-4
No. 3 – WC Caroline Stewart and Bethany Maneiro fall to Hillis and Davis, 8-2
BOYS
Singles
No. 1 – WC Colin Riley beats Nick Goff, 9-7
No. 2 – WC Wilder Higgins falls to Cade Simmons, 8-5
No. 3 – WC Kamrin McLaughlin beats Levi Everett, 8-0
No. 4 – WC Luke Winkler beats Kaston Scarborough, 8-2
No. 5 – Ved Patel beats Jaden Mihelic, 8-1
Doubles
No. 1 – WC McLaughlin and Winkler fall to Goff and Simmons, 8-6
No. 2 – WC Patel and Kaden Scott fall to Scarborough and Everett, 8-6
