TOPEKA — Great Bend High School’s singles player Grant Harris had his ups and downs in his three matches at the Class 5A State Tennis Tournament.
Harris lost his first match, 7-5, 7-5, but rallied to win his second, 9-3, on Friday.
He was slated to play a third on Friday, but rain postponed the match to Saturday.
Competing for a chance to play out the consolation bracket and finish in the top 12, Harris fell 9-2.
“Overall, I think it was a good season (for Harris),” GBHS head coach Zachary Bartel said. “I think it was a good showing at state. It was a learning experience.
“You can tell him that the singles draw is tough, but nothing beats actually experiencing it. Hopefully, he learns from this and has found some things to work on for next year.”
Harris found himself against Eric Howes of Shawnee-Mill Valley in Round 1.
“He played very well,” Bartel said. “In the first match, it was a real tight match. He just never could quite take the lead. It may have been the best match he’s played all year.”
In the second match, Harris took care of a singles player he beat in regional competition — Valley Center’s Ray Strunk.
Then it started to rain.
“It might have helped him,” Bartel said of the delay. “That first match took a lot out of him, so it probably gave him a little bit of a break.
“In the third match, he had some arm problems.”
Harris was eliminated from the competition by Maize South’s Zach Woods.

                                — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Class 5A State Tournament

BOYS

Friday-Saturday

At Topeka

Great Bend results
Singles — Grant Harris lost to Eric Howes, Shawnee-Mills Valley, 7-5, 7-5; def. Ray Strunk, Valley Center, 9-3; lost to Zach Woods, Maize South, 9-2