The Panthers boys tennis team won 14 of 15 matches last Friday in Delta.
Montezuma-Cortez High School is now 3-1 after victories on the road against the Hotchkiss Bulldogs and Cedaredge Bruins. After a long bus ride and playing in 90 degree heat, the Panthers survived a strong effort from Hotchkiss, winning 6-1 and then easily defeating Cedaredge, 7-0.
At No. 1 and No. 2 singles, Graham Cathey and Logan Dean continued their undefeated streak, winning in straight sets against both Hotchkiss and Cedaredge, and improving their records to 4-0.
Ford Wegner lost a tough match to Azure Eller, 4-6, 2-6, of Hotchkiss, but then played very well to notch a win against Cedaredge’s Peter Plonka, 6-1,6-3, at No. 3 singles.
Todd Underwood and Jake Valdez, at No. 1 doubles, had easy victories in straight sets against both teams. They beat Hotchkiss 6-1 and then Cedaredge, 6-0, 6-0. Their doubles record is now 3-1 with three wins in a row.
At No. 2 doubles, Cody Canzona and Si Eckhart were challenged by both schools, but eventually won both matches in the final set tiebreakers. They won the first set against Keegan Burke and Tyler Supres from Hotchkiss, and then lost the second set to the Bulldogs, 2-6.
“Canzona started covering his side of the court very well and Eckhart hit some great shots at the net to overcome the Bulldog effort,” M-CHS coach Dan Wood said.
In their second match, Canzona and Eckhart defeated Bruins’ Garrett Peterson and Landen Echart with another final set tiebreaker win, 10-4.
Grant Gasaway and Xavier Eddy also had a dramatic tiebreaker win against the persistent Bulldogs, 6-4, 5-7, 10-8. The No. 3 doubles team then notched a victory over the Bruins later in the afternoon
At No. 4 doubles, Wyatt Yates and Tyler Daniel easily won the first set against Hotchkiss, 6-0. Hotchkiss’ Quetin Varner and Josh Parsons acted like real Bulldogs and came back to win the second set, 7-5. Yet came another third set tiebreaker and yet again, it ended with another victory for the Panthers, 10-6. Yates and Daniel recorded another victory over Cedaredge in the late afternoon match.
M-CHS will host regional foes Grand Junction Central on Friday at 4 p.m., and Grand Junction on Saturday at 9 a.m.