INDEPENDENCE — Sophomore Garrett Catron dropped his first two matches in playing in No. 2 singles for Iola High’s Mustangs Tuesday. He bounced back to win his next two matches.
Iola High’s boys opened the 2011 tennis season Tuesday at Independence High’s quadrangular meet. The Mustangs play today in their only home date of the season.
The Mustangs see Independence again today plus Columbus and Parsons. Play begins at 3 p.m. on the district tennis courts northeast of Iola High School.
Catron lost 8-5 to Hank Cloninger of Pittsburg and dropped an 8-1 decision to Dillon Peel of Fort Scott.
Catron, whose victories were the only ones of the day for Iola, defeated Brett Perez of Chanute 8-4. He outlasted Seth Boyer of Independence 8-7, winning the tiebreaker 8-6.
Zeph Larney, another sophomore, played No. 1 singles for the Mustangs. He lost 8-3 to Michael Griffin of Pittsburg, Ben Bristley of Fort Scott and Ty Schabel of Independence. Larney lost 8-1 to Ian Cheshier of Chanute.
In No. 1 doubles for Iola sophomores Jordan Strickler and Andrew Lowell lost four matches. They lost 8-1 to Pittsburg’s Ryan Hall and Jake Cloninger, 8-0 to Fort Scott’s Colton Grillet and Bryce Daley, 8-5 to Chanute’s Jian Abbuehl and Jefferson Holmes and 8-5 to Independence’s Sid Rutland and Chase Cushing.
Paired up as the Iola’s No. 2 doubles team are senior Chris Michaels and sophomore Drew Smith. They lost 8-0 to Pittsburg’s Sean Perkins and Brandon Smith, Fort Scott’s Kyle Kelly and Davis Drake and Independence’s Drake King and Collin Cushing. They also dropped an 8-1 decision to Chanute’s Tyler Dillow and Alex Thomen.
“We showed a lot of hustle,” said Lyle Kern, Mustang head tennis coach. “We all started out a little nervous but that soon wore off and we started playing a lot better.”
Catron nets victories for IHS tennis team
