Iola High’s Colby Works makes it back to state

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Sports

May 11, 2015 - 12:00 AM

PARSONS — It’s been another good season on the tennis courts for Iola High’s Colby Works. As a singles player, Works punched his ticket to the Class 4A State Tournament on Friday at the regional tournament in Parsons.
This is Works’ second season making it to the state tournament. Last year, Works and Bryan Mueller made it to the Class 4A State Tournament as a doubles pair and finished in ninth.
“This year is almost more special because last year we were expecting to make state,” Works said. “At the beginning of this year, I wasn’t sure how good I would be. I definitely did better than I thought I would have for the most part. So, I’m more pleased this year.”
Oddly enough, Works, a junior, isn’t done at the regional tournament. During his third place match against Labette’s Caleb Matheis, lightning made its way into the area. The pair is set to resume play at 4 p.m. today. The score is tied 1-1, and in a tiebreaker. Works is up 6-5.
Works was playing for third place after losing in his semifinal match to Independence’s Lane Schicke 6-1 and 6-3.
“I thought compared to last year — we lost pretty bad and then had a tight match — that I played well in that last match today and just 10 points would have swayed it the other way,” Works said. “I think I’m holding my own pretty well.”
In Works’ first two matches, he beat Fort Scott’s Self 6-1, 6-0 and Columbus’ Max Jameson 6-1, 6-3.
Works is now 25-7 on the season.
“I feel like when we get out to Pratt next week at state, he’ll be ready for it mentally,” coach Dan Berg said. “We’ll get out on the courts and practice this week, too.”

FOR IOLA’S no. 2 singles player, Isaiah Fawson had a bad draw. After not being included in the top-10 seeds, coach Berg had to draw a number out of a hat to see where Fawson would be seeded. He drew no. 18, the last seed. Fawson had to play the no. 1 seeded player.
Fawson lost to Zach Schroeder 6-0, 6-0 to end his season.
“He had to play as our no. 1 singles player for a little while. When he moved back to no. 2 singles player, he rarely lost,” Berg said. “In fact, he won his last eight matches.”
He finished the year 15-7 overall.
The Mustangs’ no. 1 doubles team of Rhett Allen and Mason Key were a win away from making it to the state tournament.
They started the day with a tiebreaker win against Ottawa. Iola’s pair lost the first set 1-6, then won the second set 7-6. The tiebreaker was 11-9 in Iola’s favor.
The duo then played Independence and lost 6-1, 6-4. In their next match, they went up against Chanute’s Drake GIllmore and Zane Wyrick, a team they lost to during the regular season multiple times. If they won, they would go to state. But, they fell 6-0 and 6-4. They finished the season 10-16.
“They started out really fast, but struggled a little bit in the middle of the year,” Berg said. “They played a lot of sets really close, a lot of deuces.”
Iola’s no. 2 doubles pair of Tyler Holloway and Connor Farrell had to play to get into the tournament field. They ended up winning against Labette’s Robbie Gibbs and Isaac Payne 9-5. But, they went up against Chanute’s Gillmore and Wyrick in their second match and lost 6-2 and 6-1.
They finished 5-4 on the season.
“They did a really great job when I was able to get them together,” Berg said. “Some of their other activities kept me from being able to pair them until late in the season.”
Works moves onto the Class 4A State Tournament on Friday in Pratt.

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