Boys tennis: Wolves ground Eagles, sees matches wiped out by rain

Three of the Wolves’ four matches were wiped out by rain

By Conor Dowley • October 23, 2019 1:30 am
Sophomore Connor Bear, pictured during a Sept. 26 match against North Kingston, is one of the players that head coach Mark Textor has praised several times this season for his continued and significant development. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley
Sophomore Connor Bear, pictured during a Sept. 26 match against North Kingston, is one of the players that head coach Mark Textor has praised several times this season for his continued and significant development. Sequim Gazette photo by Conor Dowley

Olympic League standings

(as of Oct. 21)

Team Lg.

North Kitsap 14-0

Port Angeles 11-2

Bremerton 10-3

Sequim 8-5

Klahowya 8-5

Kingston 4-9

Olympic 3-11

North Mason 2-11

Chimacum 0-14

Rain wiped out three tennis meets for the Sequim Wolves last week, but the squad beat Klahowya 5-2 on Oct. 15 to rise to 8-5 on the season.

Nico Zingaro returned to the court after missing a meet with an injury to beat Klahowya No. 1 singles player Tyler Godsey 6-3, 6-0 in a strong showing.

Connor Bear and Dallin Despain also won their matches in straight sets, with Despain staying in singles competition as what head coach Mark Textor called “a bit of experimenting” after he won his first singles match of the season against North Mason the night before.

Despain remaining in singles action meant that Ryan Tolberd, normally Sequim’s No. 2 singles player, shifted to doubles. Partnering with Jackson VanDewege, the Sequim duo beat Hayden Yakeren and Jonah Jellison in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.

No. 4 doubles team Zack McCracken and Dominic Riccobene also won their match, though both of SHS’s No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams lost in straight sets.

Looking ahead

The Wolves had a match scheduled against North Kitsap to finish their regular season on Oct. 22; results were not available at press time. The Olympic League tennis championships are on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 23-24, at Olympic High School. Originally scheduled for Oct. 25-26, the league championships were moved up due to a poor weather forecast.

If the Wolves qualify for the District 3 championship tournament, the tournament will be held on Nov. 1-2 at the Kitsap Tennis & Athletic Center in Bremerton.