Nevada tennis steamrolls Mount Vernon, 8-1

Nevada High’s tennis team continued its blistering start to the season on Tuesday, as the Tigers flattened visiting Mount Vernon, 8-1. The decisive non-conference victory improves Nevada to 5-1 overall.

After absorbing its firs loss of the season on Thursday against Bolivar, Nevada head coach Clayton Wheeler said he was thrilled with his squad’s bounce-back win.

“Especially with the absence of our No. 1 player, Tanner Gotschall,” said Wheeler, adding that Gotschall missed the match due to personal reasons. “All the boys played extremely well. The past few years we have struggled against weaker opponents, in the sense that we had a tendency to play down to their level. But this year, we have seemed to overcome that, and are doing great at playing at our level — regardless of the other team.”

Replacing Gotschall at No. 1, was Sam Rea as the senior netter doubled up Derek Dorrence, 8-4. Nevada swept its remaining five singles matches, with Caleb Theis winning 8-4; Colson Fisher, 8-0; Gabe Barnes, 8-2; Jace Lanham, 8-3; and Gage Turner, 8-3. Nevada then took two of the three doubles matches en route to the lopsided 8-1 victory.

“I was extremely impressed with Gage Turner, who participated for the first time in a varsity match,” noted Wheeler. “We were unaware of the lineup change until mid-morning. I felt that Gage did a great job of mentally accepting the bump up, and handled his singles match very well — and stepped into doubles with Caleb Theis with the same determination.”

Up next

The red-hot Nevada netters return to the court today, for a West Central Conference clash with St. Michael’s Catholic H.S., in Raytown, Missouri.