It wasn’t easy, but the Republic tennis team completed a 9-0 sweep against Mount Vernon while honoring its most successful senior class ever. The Tigers won all three doubles matches to start things off — including a 9-8 win by Gabe Bandfield and Brett Carpenter. They then swept to a 6-0 win in singles play.
But before they took the court, the Tigers honored four seniors: Gabe Bandfield, Brad Hendrix, Drew Mackey, and Michael Nacy. Coach Dan Vales praised the Class of 2016 for its lasting contribution to the program.
“They’ve helped build our program to the point this year that we’re going to compete for possible COC and district championships. The perception of tennis has changed since they’ve started. More kids want to be part of our program. More kids are participating each year,” Vales says. “The final, lasting contribution of these guys will be that they’ve selflessly tried to help their younger teammates get better. Even when they’re gone, they’ll still be making a contribution because the next class will be ready to go and pick up the pieces where they’ve left off.”
Nacy and Hendrix played together in doubles for the first time, and cruised to an 8-0 win. Bandfield and Brett Carpenter, playing up a line-up spot at #2 doubles, fought off two match points to win their match in a tie-breaker.
Brothers Dylan and Drew Mackey played together in doubles and won their match, 8-4. Drew Mackey got the Senior Night varsity start at #6 singles and won 8-4, as well.
It’s win #10 for the Tigers this season. The Tigers have won 80 matches this season and lost only 10. They need only one more dual win to tie the all-time single-season record for Republic tennis. The Tigers compete at the Waynesville tournament on Friday.
Varsity singles
Michael Nacy v. Jordan Walters 8-1
Bradley Hendrix v. Cameron Hutchinson 8-1
Gabe Bandfield v. Josh McHaffie 8-6
Dylan Mackey v. Mason Adams 8-0
Austin Massey v. Derek Dorrance 8-2
Drew Mackey v. Michael Long 8-4
Varsity Doubles
Nacy / Hendrix v. Walters / Hutchinson 8-0
Bandfield / Carpenter v. McHaffie / Adams 9-8 (7-5)
Mackey /Mackey v. Dorrance / Long 8-4
Junior Varsity
Republic d. Mt. Vernon 5-0
