Much like Noah, the West Holmes Knights are sending tennis players on to District play two-by-two.
Four members of the West Holmes Knights tennis team will be making the trek to Athens Saturday, May 25, to participate in the District tennis meet.
For West Holmes, the doubles team of Danny Nelson and Nate Ewing, who excelled at first and second singles respectively this season, teamed up to make it into the second day of seeding for Districts.
They defeated the team from Dover 6-0, 6-0, before taking care of East Liverpools top doubles team 6-1, 6-0.
Their teammates, Evan Aurand and Joey Schlabach, the three seed for Sectionals, also advanced, easily battling past East Liverpools number two team 6-0, 6-1, then destroying Coshoctons top doubles team 6-0, 6-1.
In singles play, senior Chandler Strouse, who had played second double all season, was forced to play singles, and came away with a victory in his initial foray into Sectional tennis, earning a 6-1, 6-1 win over Skyler Smolak of Claymont 6-1, 6-1.
I was a little nervous, said Strouse of playing singles. I was a little surprised to win as big as I did, but it was fun. It is a little different game, but it is still tennis, and I had a good time.
His reward for winning was a date with top-seeded Aaron Ruby, a State qualifier last year from Cambridge, who bounced Strouse from the tournament 6-1, 6-0, but what a thrill for the senior to capture a win at Sectionals before bowing out.
We knew the odds were against us in singles because we dropped Danny and Nate down to doubles, but I was thrilled for Chandler to see him get a win in his senior year, said West Holmes coach Jason Otto.
Strouse regular doubles partner, Ethan Meyer, was ousted 6-2, 6-4 by Hilands Alec Mast, while his brother, junior Tim Meyer, was defeated by Dovers Brent Keating, a player he had beaten earlier in the year.
I think Tim took him a little lightly, said Otto. The kid came in and competed hard, and even though Tim had beaten him earlier this year, it was a fairly close match.
As for moving both doubles teams along to Districts, Otto was pleased, especially when the tandem of Nelson and Ewing earned the number two seed the next day of seeding qualifying, while Aurand and Schlabach earned the three seed.
Nate and Danny played pretty well, although they got beaten up by the Engstrom twins from Cambridge in the fight for the one seed, said Otto. I think they have a shot at advancing out of Districts if they play well.
Aurand and Schlabach needed some extra swings, but they eventually topped Hilands Cam Yoder and Cole Reynolds in a third set tie-breaker, this after nearly squandering five match-points.
Hiland played very aggressive early on and got them in a hole, but they bounced back and won the second fairly easily, said Otto of his team. Then after they blew five match points to send it to a tie-breaker, I thought they might struggle, but they got it together and won the tie-breaker 7-2.
For Aurand, both he and Schlabach have talked about finding their way to Districts all year.
Now they have realized that, and from here on out is all gravy.
Theres no pressure on us now, said Aurand. We just have to go play the best we can and whatever happens, happens.
Schlabach agreed, noting, This has been our goal all season. I think we want to go have fun with it, and see what happens. Going out as a senior, this is a great way to go.
