The Republic boys tennis squad is coming off its best season ever — but without some of its best players ever. After graduating state qualifiers Michael Nacy and Brad Hendrix, along with Gabe Bandfield, it wasn’t clear whether the Tigers would be able to pick up where they left off.
But they did.
With Nacy looking on, the Tigers steamrolled Carthage 9-0 to start the season at home Monday night. The JV team won 19 of its 21 matches.
“ great first win … against a district and conference opponent in Carthage,” says head coach Dan Vales. “Carthage did not graduate any varsity players last year, while we have shuffled guys into new, tougher roles because of the players we lost to graduation. varsity players stepped up and passed their first test of the season.”
Vales says he believes the JV team will have success all year, because of the talent coming up through Republic’s tennis system.
“I expect the JV to be very tough this year,” Vales says. “We have multiple players with tons of potential if they work hard at it.”
Scoring
Varsity Singles
Case Birlew d. Austin Ward 8-1
Dylan Mackey d. Damon Teel 8-5
Logan Elder d. Royce Worley 8-2
Hunter Creek d. Thomas Neuenswander 8-5
Austin Massey d. Christopher Roberts 8-2
Isaac Jordan d. Gabriel Hook 8-0
Varsity Doubles
Birlew/Creek d. Ward/Teel 8-3
Mackey/Elder d. Worley/Neuenswander 8-2
Massey/Jordan d. Roberts/Hook 8-4