Chiefs tennis season comes to an end

PASCO  - Consistency is the name of the game in tennis. Unfortunately, that was the one factor missing for the Chiefs at the CBBN District Tournament in Pasco last weekend as Moses Lake was unable to put together enough wins to advance any players to regionals.

The girls team saw just two singles and one doubles team make it as far as the quarterfinal round. The Chiefs first singles Courtney Kunjara dropped her match 6-4, 7-5 to Kindra Dietrich from Wenatchee, Alyssa Tucker the No. 2 singles lost to Kaitlyn Nelson form Chiawana 6-3, 6-2, and the doubles team of Becca Byam and Annalise Odegaard were turned back by Allison Boynton and Melody Qui from Richland 6-2, 6-4.

"I felt pretty confident we would have some success in the quarterfinals of the consolation with the girls, but we dropped a pair of matches we would win if we played at a consistent level," coach Jon Wrigley said. "The heat took the movement out of our feet on day two."

None of the boys singles made it as far as the quarterfinal round, but three doubles teams found their way into the semifinal round before being eliminated from the competition.

The Chiefs first doubles Tyler Knapp and Levi Huddleston lost out to Greg Cucucci and Patrick Kinder from Richland, 3-6, 4-6. The second doubles Josh Black and Drew Perez dropped their match 0-6. 5-7.  The fifth/sixth doubles of Black and Perez defeated teammates Knapp and Huddleston in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, but did not advance.  

"The boys doubles draw was loaded with teams that will win matches at state," Wrigley said. "We just couldn't get the big break of serve to win the necessary match to move on."

The Chiefs will lose all district qualifiers but Kunjara and Perez to graduation this year. However, Wrigley said those returning are expected to compete in among the best in the league if they put in the time and commitment in the offseason.

"The girls have an opportunity to do big things next year. But we need to find a group of players that want to play beyond the two and a half months our season runs," he said. "We have some good athletes and competitors who could cause some problems for opponents, if they keep a racket in hand. Our girls league is stacked with club players at the top of the ladder, but we have to do better against the top players."

The boys are losing a total of six players on the team, but the league, Wrigley said, is down outside of the Wenatchee schools. 

"We have some unknowns but Drew Perez, Tiernan Hall, Marco Sanchez, and Jordan Earl all return and should build a great foundation," he said. "The boys have done a decent job getting out during the off-season, but they will have to work a bit harder to cover for the losses in graduation this year."