NORTH NEWTON – The Barton men’s tennis team had no trouble rolling past Bethel in the final regular season meet of the season.
Barton traveled to North Newton and left town with a 9-0 with over the Threshers. The Cougars never lost a set during the win.
Barton will be hosting the Region VI tournament this weekend at Veterans Park. Play will get started Saturday at 9 am with singles action.
The tournament will consist of Barton, Seward, Cowley, and Hesston.
It was easy cruising against Bethel. The only matches that were close were at No. 1 doubles and No. 4 and 5 singles.
“We got both good weather and good results,” Coach Lyle Stickney said. “Hopefully we’re peaking at the proper time.”
In the No. 1 doubles, Barton’s Marcel Miasato and Juan Navarro held on for an 8-5 win over Gabe Johnson and Tyler Shima. Miasato rolled at No. 1 singles over Johnson while Navarro won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles over Ryan LaCombe.
Kaio Sato had to break a sweat at No. 4 singles before winning 7-5, 6-3 over Shima. Juan Jaimes had a tough first set in a 7-6 (5), 6-1 win over Grant Bellar at No. 5 singles.
Giovanni Fragalle lost two games all day, winning No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-0 after teaming with Sato in an 8-1 win at No. 2 doubles.
The Region VI meet will be a good test of tennis this weekend as Seward comes to Great Bend ranked No. 4 in the nation and Cowley at No. 9. Barton is ranked No. 16.
“We have our work cut out for us this weekend,” Coach Stickney said. “The guys all know what’s at stake. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that they can win enough matches to qualify for nationals.”

Barton 9, Bethel 0
Singles
1 – Marcel Miasato, Barton, def Gabe Johnson, 6-1, 6-1
2 – Juan Navarro, Barton, def Ryan LaCombe, 6-4, 6-1
3 – Giovanni Fragalle, Barton, def Connick Roe, 6-1, 6-0
4 – Kaio Sato, Barton, def Tyler Shima, 7-5, 6-3
5 – Juan Jaimes, Barton, def Grant Bellar, 7-6 (5), 6-1
6 – Ray Strunk, Barton, def Shawn Bontrager, 6-3, 6-0

Doubles
1 – Miasato/Navarro, Barton def Johnson/Shima, 8-5
2 – Fragalle/Sato, Barton def Bontrager/LaCombe, 8-1
3 – Jaimes/Herbst, Barton, def Bellar/Gaptor, 8-2