GARDEN CITY — This is exactly what Great Bend High School head boys’ tennis coach Shannon Schartz was expecting before the spring season began.
The Panthers won their fifth straight team title on Saturday at the Garden City Varsity Invitational.
“I thought after the McPherson meet that we had a chance to win every tournament,” Schartz said. “So far, we have. They’ve been playing well and they’ve been working hard.”
However, Great Bend didn’t sweep the competition like they have a couple times this season.
“We were a little disappointed that Garden City got us in the doubles matches,” Schartz said. “They were close matches. We played well, but they were able to beat us. We’ll be looking for a little revenge at the (Western Athletic Conference) tournament, which we get to host this year.
“Garden City will probably be the ones to give us the most competition at the WAC meet, but we should definitely be the favorites.”
Nick Moyers and Chase Buntain, the Panthers No. 1 doubles team, dropped their matches with Garden City in a 10-8 tiebreaker. They finished in second place.
Adam Neeland and Ramon Garcia fell 6-4, 6-4 to Garden City to finish second.
No. 2 singles player Grant Harris swept his matches to finish in first place while No. 1 singles Austin Jacobs fell to Pratt in a 10-8 tiebreaker to finish second.
Great Bend is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Sterling. The tournament begins at 2 p.m.
“Sterling is ranked No. 2 in Class 3-1A, I think,” Schartz said. “They have a foreign exchange student from Italy who is supposed to be one of the best in the state. He plays No. 1 singles, so Austin has a big hill to climb.
“They are all looking forward to playing good teams. They want to get better before regionals.”
The WAC tournament is slated for Monday, April 30. It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

                                                                              — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Garden City Varsity Invitational

At Garden City

Saturday

BOYS

Great Bend results
No. 1 singles — Austin Jacobs def. Scott City 6-0, 6-0; def. Garden City 6-4, 6-3; lost to Pratt 2-6, 7-5 (10-8)
No. 2 singles — Grant Harris def. Colby 6-0, 6-0; def. Dodge City 6-0, 6-0; def. Hays 6-2, 6-0
No. 1 doubles — Nick Moyers & Chase Buntain def. Scott City 6-1, 6-0; def. Meade 6-0, 6-1; lost to Garden City 5-7, 6-1 (10-8)
No. 2 doubles — Adam Neeland & Ramon Garcia def. Liberal 6-0, 6-0; def. Meade 6-1, 6-3; lost to Garden City 6-4, 6-4

GARDEN CITY — This is exactly what Great Bend High School head boys’ tennis coach Shannon Schartz was expecting before the spring season began.
The Panthers won their fifth straight team title on Saturday at the Garden City Varsity Invitational.
“I thought after the McPherson meet that we had a chance to win every tournament,” Schartz said. “So far, we have. They’ve been playing well and they’ve been working hard.”
However, Great Bend didn’t sweep the competition like they have a couple times this season.
“We were a little disappointed that Garden City got us in the doubles matches,” Schartz said. “They were close matches. We played well, but they were able to beat us. We’ll be looking for a little revenge at the (Western Athletic Conference) tournament, which we get to host this year.
“Garden City will probably be the ones to give us the most competition at the WAC meet, but we should definitely be the favorites.”
Nick Moyers and Chase Buntain, the Panthers No. 1 doubles team, dropped their matches with Garden City in a 10-8 tiebreaker. They finished in second place.
Adam Neeland and Ramon Garcia fell 6-4, 6-4 to Garden City to finish second.
No. 2 singles player Grant Harris swept his matches to finish in first place while No. 1 singles Austin Jacobs fell to Pratt in a 10-8 tiebreaker to finish second.
Great Bend is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Sterling. The tournament begins at 2 p.m.
“Sterling is ranked No. 2 in Class 3-1A, I think,” Schartz said. “They have a foreign exchange student from Italy who is supposed to be one of the best in the state. He plays No. 1 singles, so Austin has a big hill to climb.
“They are all looking forward to playing good teams. They want to get better before regionals.”
The WAC tournament is slated for Monday, April 30. It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

— Kevin Price