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Tiger Cubs take down Eagles to start boys’ tennis season
The 2023 boys’ tennis season opened in earnest for both Greencastle and South Putnam Wednesday as the two schools took on one another in the first match for both team.
The Tiger Cubs started off with a match lead as the Eagles were short a No. 2 doubles team, though the hosts were quick to add two more points to take the team win, eventually claiming a 5-0 sweep over the visitors.
“The boys found a way to finish tonight,” Greencastle head coach Annette Munoz said. “No. 1 singles and doubles played really strong and consistent throughout the whole match.”
“I was really pleased with our performance tonight,” South Putnam head coach Johnnie Briones said. “I wasn’t expecting this but we played really well and had some very good points.
“For our guys, several of them first-timers, I’m very proud of him.”
Greencastle picked up its first win on the courts at No. 1 doubles where Kyle Brentlinger and Mitch Staggers defeated Grant Jackman and Brayden Pollock 6-0, 6-0.
Jay Glotzbach secured the team victory soon after with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles over Luke Hutchison.
More competitive matches were found on the second and third singles courts as Joel Hammond breezed through his first set against William Schurter at No. 2 singles before the South Putnam sophomore kept the second set tight, eventually falling 6-3.
“I expect more from my No. 1 and 2 singles players, having experience, and they did well for the first time out,” Briones said about Hutchison and Schurter. “I was also impressed with No. 1 doubles. It was their first match ever, there were times they weren’t sure what to expect but they had some really good points and I was pleased with them.”
Eagle freshman Aiden Brinkman and Tiger Cub senior Paul Lewis played the longest match of the night as Brinkman kept multiple rallies going throughout the course the contest though Lewis’ experience eventually told, taking the contest 6-2, 6-3.
“No. 2 and 3 singles won strong but they had some long points, had to battle back in some games and they did lose some games, which is alright,” Munoz said. “They are mature, older seniors and having that senior mentality meant they understood they had to fight for some stuff out there.”
“For a freshman, playing No. 3 singles at the varsity level, I was proud of (Aiden) tonight,” Briones said. “He played some tennis over the summer, and it showed, but he’s very consistent on his ground stroke and his serve was good.
“Once he plays a few more matches and gets some power in his stroke and serve, that will help him out.”