Competing in what is called the Northwest's largest high school tennis tournament, the Wood River High School and Community School racquet teams posted some solid gains last weekend in Boise.
They'll try to build upon the progress with home meets this week leading up to Saturday's second-of-the-season clash between Wood River and The Community School Saturday, May 7 at Warm Springs Tennis.
Last weekend's action took place at the 24-team Capital Classic tournament, which staged its final matches Saturday at Timberline High. Primary sponsors were Sundance Dodge and Prince Sports.
Coach Marc Scribner's Community School Cutthroats placed their top two boys' singles players—Tyler Martin and Scooter Sabel—in the very competitive boys' singles semi-finals. And Wood River's Hadley DeBree was the consolation winner of the #1 girls' singles category.
The Cutthroats placed 17th as a team with 147 points and coach John Radford's Wolverines were 20th with 127 points. Centennial (275) got past Hermiston (Ore.) by eight points for the team title.
Scribner said, "The kids did very well. Having two of our players make the Main Draw competing against the best players in Idaho is good for our valley."
Tyler Martin lost 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals to eventual #1 boys' singles champ Michael Manser of Timberline. Sabel dropped a 6-3, 6-4 semi-final challenge to eventual #2 boys' winner Quinn Olbrich of Boise. #3 boys' singles Ryon Campbell made the consolation finals.
Mandy Alexander and Devon Bunce, #1 Cutthroat girls' doubles pairing, captured fourth place. Also performing well were #1 girls' singles Caitlin Cairncross and the #1 boys' doubles team of Christian Cairncross and Wes Flanigan.
For Wood River, #1 girls' doubles Abby Fairman and Jackie Safran made the consolation finals and #1 boys' singles Thomas Phelan advanced into the consolation semi-finals. #2 girls' singles Anna Chrysikopoulos achieved the winner bracket quarterfinals.
Wood River (6-2-2 dual meets) hosts Minico Thursday, May 5 on the high school tennis courts then travels to Ketchum's Warm Springs Tennis Club Saturday, May 7 for a 12:30 p.m. return engagement with The Community School. The Cutthroats entertain Twin Falls Friday at Warm Springs.
