Wood River High School's tennis team continued its strong effort in Great Basin Conference West action with a 9-3 home win over the Burley Bobcats Thursday in Hailey.
The Wolverines swept the six singles matches, all in straight sets, and maintained dominance in mixed doubles. Coach Vicki Johnston liked what she saw from her powerful squad (6-3-3, 3-0 league).
Johnston said, "Impressive playing from all players, especially our singles players. Alex Henning pulled off a fun match, winning 7-5 in the tiebreaker in the second set. He loves tennis and being on the team. Every experience for him is a positive learning experience."
Everybody contributes for Wood River, even if they're new to the varsity. Johnston added, "Rachel Kaufman, a junior, won a great match in a second-set tiebreaker. She is usually a JV player but she filled in for us at #2 singles. I could not believe how much determination she showed."
Among the JV players who performed well against Burley were Chris Chapman, Ben Leopold, Will Drier, Hans Howard, Jason Barbee, Koby Sliwicki, Tessa Barrow and Allison Rust.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, Wood River showed its legitimate stuff with 7-5 and 9-3 team wins over Pocatello and Century of Pocatello. The Wolverines won nine of 12 singles matches and swept mixed doubles for the pro-set day.
Keep in mind Pocatello and Century finished 1-2 in last spring's Great Basin Conference tennis tournament, with Wood River a distant third. Then Pocatello placed third in the State 4A racquet meet.
"It was a perfect sunny day, kids were everywhere," said Johnston. "We played great tennis against Pocatello. The mixed doubles team of Cory Rutkowski and Whitney DeBree is being talked about. Their chemistry is only getting better. Most likely they'll be the top seed going into districts."
The Wolverines travel to the Capital Invitational tournament in Boise Friday and Saturday, then clash with The Community School Tuesday. Next Wednesday, it's a home make-up match with Gooding.
Results from Thursday's Burley meet and the weekend set against Pocatello/Century:
WR 9, Burley 3
April 20 in Hailey
Boys' singles: #1 Phillip Neeley (WR) 6-1, 6-1 over James Van Buskirk (B); #2 Connor Fairman (WR) 6-0, 6-2 over David Burgess (B); #3 Alex Henning (WR) 6-4, 7-6 over Jordan Hammond (B).
Girls' singles: #1 Anna Chrysikopoulos (WR) 6-0, 6-0 over Shaylyn Garn (B); #2 Rachel Kaufman 6-4, 7-6 over Chelsi Funk (B); #3 Tanya Greenwood (WR) 6-0, 6-0 over Rachel Evans (B).
Boys' doubles: #1 Dax Greener-Kolby Carpenter (B) 6-0, 6-0 over Bryce Newcomb-David Sibrian (WR); #2 Rohan Adams-Ryan Holloway (B) 6-4, 6-2 over Casey Lane-Robbie Lascheck (WR).
Girls' doubles: #1 Hadley DeBree-Kira Gardner (WR) 6-1, 6-1 over Alex Haynie-Jordan Johnson (B); #2 Kylie Barrus-Maria Elizondo (B) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 over Alexis Greenwood-Kami Doan (WR).
Mixed doubles: #1 Cory Rutkowski-Whitney DeBree (WR) 6-3, 6-0 over Trevor Matthews-Amanda Vandever (B); #2 Dixon Mooseau-Abby Fairman (WR) 6-1, 6-1 over Caldon Adams-Kim Ashton (B).
WR 7, Pocatello 5
April 22 in Hailey
Boys' singles: #1 Brian Prussia (P) 10-8 over Phillip Neeley (WR); #2 Connor Fairman (WR) 8-2 over Tom Chambers (P); #3 Alex Henning (WR) 8-5 over Brock Lanning (P).
Girls' singles: #1 Hadley DeBree 8-2 over Madeline Woodhouse (P); #2 Anna Chrysikopoulos (WR) 8-1 over Emily Woodhouse (P); #3 Ashley Prior (WR) 8-6 over Jill Burnham (P).
Boys' doubles: #1 Marcus Thiemann-Travis Gilbert (P) 6-1, 6-1 over Robbie Lascheck-Chris Chapman (WR); #2 Rychel Morton-Thomas Landon (P) 6-3, 6-3 over Casey Lane-Hans Howard (WR).
Girls' doubles: #1 Ashley Goodell-Jessica Steele (P) 6-3, 6-0 over Kira Gardner-Lauren Rust (WR); #2 Katelin Clark-Megan Milner (P) 6-4, 6-3 over Alexis Greenwood-Tanya Greenwood (WR).
Mixed doubles: #1 Cory Rutkowski-Whitney DeBree (WR) 7-5, 6-4 over Logan Aytes-Brittany Goodell (P); #2 Dixon Mooseau-Abby Fairman (WR) 6-4, 6-3 over Kirk Thiemann-Holly Hancock (P).
WR 9, Century 3
April 22 in Hailey
Boys' singles: #1 Daniel Spicer (C) 8-0 over Phillip Neeley (WR); #2 Connor Fairman (WR) 8-5 over Jordan Green (C); #3 Alex Henning (WR) won by default.
Girls' singles: #1 Hadley DeBree 8-3 over Liz Anderson (C); #2 Janeal James (C) 8-3 over Anna Chrysikopoulos (WR); #3 Tanya Greenwood (WR) 8-2 over Kate Mills (C).
Boys' doubles: #1 Matt Kress-Matt Sutton (C) 6-0, 6-0 over Robbie Lascheck-Ben Leopold (WR); #2 Casey Lane-Hans Howard (WR) 7-6, 6-2 over Derek Sluder-Logan Gull (C).
Girls' doubles: #1 Kira Gardner-Abby Fairman (WR) 6-1, 6-1 over Ashley Laurence-Courtney Bull (C); #2 Alexis Greenwood-Ashley Prior (WR) by default.
Mixed doubles: #1 Cory Rutkowski-Whitney DeBree (WR) 6-3, 6-3 over Chester Kener-Krystle Maples (C); #2 Dixon Mooseau-Lauren Rust (WR) 6-1, 6-0 over Trent Petty-Makenna Nolte (C).
