CAMDEN — The race for the Southwestern Buckeye League’s Buckeye Division boys tennis title will be a three-way battle to be decided at the league tournament.
Preble Shawnee, currently third with 24 points, will battle out it with regular season leader Milton-Union (26 points) and second place Waynesville (25 points).
The league tournament was schedule to be held Tuesday, May 1 at Thomas Cloud Park.
The Arrows enter the tournament having splits their last four matches last week.
Shawnee opened the week with a 5-0 win over Northridge on Tuesday, April 24.
The match was played at Forest Hills Sportsplex in Middletown due to rain.
At first singles, Pierce Elliott (PS) beat Josh Brown (N) 6-0, 6-0. At second singles, Luke Feck (PS) downed Vernon Woods (N) 6-0, 6-0. At third singles, Allison Zornes (PS) beat Harley Geisel (N) 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, the Arrows first doubles team of Hayden Brown and Austin Carter beat Travis Royalty and Cameron McCormack (N) 6-4, 6-3, while Jackson Carter and Matt Back (PS) beat Seth Wilson and Nate Snedigar (N) 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles.
“We really needed to win all five points tonight to stay in the hunt at next week’s league tournament,” Shawnee coach Dave Hubbard said. “Our players did a great job of executing and going out and picking up all five for us. Hopefully, we have put ourselves in a position to win next week. We have to wait and see how things go between Milton and Waynesville on Thursday but we should be right there in the mix.”
On Tuesday, Shawnee rolled over Monroe 5-0.
“Our singles lineup continues to get things done for us in a big way,” Hubbard. “Pierce, Luke and Allison really dominated and controlled their matches from start to finish. The doubles teams had a little tougher time of it, particularly first doubles, but they did a nice job of closing their matches out as well.”
Elliot bested Tim Wackler (M) 6-0, 6-0, while Feck knocked off Jude Weidner (M) 6-2, 6-0. Zornes defeated Osric Wong (M) 6-0,6-1.
In doubles play, Brown and Carter beat Alex Gomia and Weston Triplett (M) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 and Whisman and Carter topped Devon Manning and Paolo Dongo (M) 6-2, 6-2.
The Arrows closed out the week with a pair of 3-2 losses to Talawanda and Chaminade Julienne.
Shawnee picked up wins at first singles and first doubles against CJ.
“All in all a very solid effort tonight but we just were not able to pull of the win,” Hubbard said. “Pierce put up another strong and efficient display of tennis for us. Luke and Allison played very well picking up our other individual match win.”
Against the Talawanda, Elliott and Feck won their matches as the Arrows fell as a team.
“Talawanda is a really good team. They are probably going to win the SWOC this year so we knew this was going to be a tough match,” Hubbard said. ‘It came down to the first doubles match and we were just not quite able to pull it off. Hayden and Austin gave an awesome effort in pushing them to three sets. I was very proud of them tonight for sure,”
Shawnee (8-5, overall and 4-2 SWBL) was scheduled to play Carroll on Monday, April 30. They will also visit Edgewood on Thursday and travel to Franklin on Friday, in addition to the SWBL tournament on Wednesday.
