Nevada High netters off to 3-0 start

Nevada High School’s tennis team is flying high with a perfect 3-0 start to its 2018 season.

The Nevada netters opened the season March 29, with a 5-4 non-conference home victory over Carl Junction. The Tigers then returned to the Nevada High School tennis courts Tuesday, triumphing over West Central Conference rival Smith High Cotton H.S., 6-3.

“It was a big win,” said an elated NHS tennis coach, Clayton Wheeler. “It’s a good feeling to start out conference-play with a win, especially since we have not beaten Smith-Cotton before.”

In their first road contest of the season on Thursday, Wheeler’s club knocked off Carthage 7-2, in a non-conference clash.

“For our first road match, it was a great win,” said Wheeler. “Carthage is always strong competition. Their players are always solid from the top of their lineup to the bottom. We did a great job of showing up and taking care of business.”

Nevada won four of its six singles matches, which included: No. 1 Tanner Gotschall, with an 8-0 win; No. 2 Sam Rea, (8-0); No. 3 Caleb Theis, (8-2); and No. 4 Colson Fisher, (8-6).

The Tigers then swept the three doubles matches. Nevada’s top duo Gotschall and Theis won its match 8-6. Nevada’s No. 2 pairing Rea and Gabe Barnes cruised to an 8-2 victory — and the Tigers No. 3 tandem Fisher and Jace Lanham breezed to an 8-3 win.

“We are very proud with the start of our season,” said Wheeler, adding, “we plan to continue remaining focused on taking the season one match at a time. As usual with athletics, there are still a few adjustments that need to be made.”

Wheeler said he was also pleased with the play of his junior varsity squad against Carthage, as the Tigers fell 5-4 against a much larger Carthage JV team.

“They played hard, and I know they were very tired by the end of the night,” noted Wheeler. “Playing matches is the key to improving in tennis. Practice helps learn the skills — but actual match-play refines those skills.”

Nevada’s junior varsity team is comprised of Gage Turner, Holden Petitt, Spencer Hawkins, Joe Hendrix, Gage Rubin, and Ben Sudkamp.

“We are very pleased with the progress our JV squad is making this year,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler said his squad’s upcoming schedule is “grueling.”

“The next couple weeks are very busy for us, as the team has nine competition dates, starting with us hosting conference opponent, St. Pius X on Tuesday.”