It wasn’t a day to call home about for the Barton men’s tennis team.
In fact, the trip to Arkansas City could be forgotten about. Cowley, ranked No. 7 in the country, rolled to a 9-0 win over the Cougars in the final tune-up for the Region VI Championships.
“With conference play completed and the Region VI tournament less than two weeks away, we are aware of the task ahead and what it will take to qualify for nationals,” Coach Lyle Stickney said.
That pretty much sums things up for the Cougars – turning full attention to the Region VI Championships and earning a spot at the national tournament.
The best showing of the day came from Ray Strunk at No. 4 singles. Strunk battled in the opening set before losing 6-4 to Nicholas Liddy then fell 6-0. Lucas Castelani won three games in a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Lucas Freitas at No. 1.
Barton was blanked at No. 2 and 3 singles. Luis Soares lost at No. 2 Jose Castro and Sam Barker at No. 3 to Lukas Michenka.
Triston Herbst fell at No. 5 to Marcelo Balderrama by a 6-1, 6-1 count while Cole Hardin lost 6-1, 6-0 to Jorge Godoy at No. 6.
Things weren’t much better in doubles for Barton.
Castelani and Barker lost No. 1 doubles 8-0 to Freitas and Godoy. Soares and Strunk lost 8-2 to Michenka and Toby Timms at No. 2.
Barton’s duo of Herbst and Hardin also lost 8-2 at No. 3 to Christian Borrero and Tim Fischer.
Barton will be out of action until April 30-May 1 action at the Region VI Championships in Liberal.