EATON — Eaton’s boys’ tennis team earned its first-ever top 10 ranking in the Miami Valley Tennis Coaches Association Division II Poll last week.
The Eagles’ ranking was immediatly put to a test as No. 10 Eaton hosted No. 8 Dayton Christian.
Making the match that much more challenging for Eaton was the absence of one of its top doubles players, but the Eagles prevailed 4-1.
“We entered the match knowing that it was going to be challenge,” Eaton coach John Hitchcock said. “To compound the challenge even further, we were missing one of our normal first doubles players.”
Hitchcock said sophomore Matthew Wright stepped up from JV and filled in on second doubles as his team had to adjust its usual lineup.
Both the third singles and both doubles teams came up with the first three key wins for the Eagles, sealing the match.
Meanwhile Brad Kramer avenged a very tough loss from the same opponent in last year’s match.
Kramer was down in the second set but managed to get it to a tie breaker, where he won 7-4, giving Eaton it’s fourth win.
Breven Perry played very well but was up against a formidable opponent.
“Playing stronger opponents will help him immensely in the long run,” Hitchcock said.
Results:
1st singles: Breven Perry lost to Paul Hodge 0-6, 0-6.
2nd singles: Brad Kramer won against Solomon West 6-2, 7-6 (4).
3rd singles: Cody Frizzell won against Charley Fortener 6-0, 6-0
1st doubles: Andrew Collins and Dylan Hauser won against Elaina Baker and Samuel Thompson 6-2, 6-2.
2nd doubles: John Altom and Matthew Wright won against Hannah Withers and Alex Sims 7-5, 6-3.
Eaton closed out the week with a 3-2 loss at Greenville on Friday, April 28.
Greenville was 14-4 and ranked No. 8 in the Miami Valley Tennis Coaches Association Poll for Division I schools while Eaton had the same No. 8 ranking for Division II.
Even though Eaton was missing one of their regular starters, a first doubles players, they still competed hard and had a chance at the win, according to Hitchcock.
“We just came up shy in a couple of courts, losing 2-3. In the past 5 years, the matches with Greenville haven’t really been close. This year we made them sweat it out,” he said. “Hopefully, we can turn the tide next year we they travel to Eaton.”
Results:
1st singles: Breven Perry lost to Haupt 4-6, 1-6
2nd singles: Brad Kramer lost to Manges 3-6, 4-6
3rd singles: Cody Frizzell won against Leigiber 6-1, 6-0
1st doubles: Andrew Collins and Dylan Hauser won against Grote/Smith 7-6 (3), 6-3.
2nd doubles: John Altom and Matthew Wright lost against Lobenstien/Galloway 6-1, 3-6, 0-6.
Eaton (9-6) was scheduled to play Valley View on Monday, May 1, and compete in the SWBL tournament on Wednesday. They will travel to Carlisle on Thursday and visit Talawanda on Friday, before closing out the week on Saturday, at Edgewood.
