Tennis struggles at tough tourney

INDEPENDENCE -- When Independence, Arkansas City and Parsons are at the same tennis tournament, it's going to be a long day for the other teams that were invited.

Fort Scott High School and Labette County were the other teams here Thursday. The Tigers struggled in the tournament with just one win in 12 matches.

"This was a very tough tournament and we knew it would be going in," Fort Scott head coach Lynn Barr said. "Indy, Ark City and Parsons are all consistently strong teams and this year is no exception. LCHS looks like a much improved team this year, they also played pretty well."

Davis Drake and Gage Addington picked up the only win of the day when they beat Labette County's Caleb Webster/Caleb Mathes, 8-1. in No. 1 doubles. Drake and Addington lost to Ark City's Rhet Posey/Connor Seitz, 8-4; Indy's Gavin Webster/Tyler Posch, 8-1; and Parsons' Tyler Beardmore/Kevin Debald, 8-2.

Jon Carpenter and Tim Higgins played their first varsity matches as the No. 2 doubles team. They lost to Ark City's Aldo Tovar/Hunter Fullhart, 8-2; Indy's A.J. Capps/Drake King, 8-0; LC's Aaron McCoach/Devin Philbrick, 8-01; and Parsons' Ross Benevides/Andres Jarrett, 8-0.

Jesse Guerro played his first singles matches at the varsity level at No. 1 singles. He lost all four matches 8-0 to Ark City's Maecen Vargas, Indy's Lane Schicke, LC's Colton Kessler and Parsons' Payton Hayes.

Raifen Cruse played No. 2 singles. He lost to Levi Martinez of Ark City, 8-1; Brennan Gordon of Independence, 8-0; Dylan Waugh of LCHS, 8-2; and Dequan Welch of Parsons, 8-4.

"I thought everyone gave a good effort and played hard, that is important," Barr said. "We just have to learn from our mistakes and keep trying to get better as the season progresses."

The Tigers are scheduled to play in the Spring Hill Tournament at 3 p.m. Tuesday.