Great Bend Post
The Great Bend tennis team featured a different look at the Hays Invitational on Monday. The Panthers scored 22 points to finish fifth out of the five schools in action. The host Indians won the meet with 36 points, followed by Liberal, Phillipsburg, and Salina South, all separated by just two points with 26, 25, and 24, respectively.
Returning state qualifier Brendyn Schroeder moved out of the No. 1 singles slot to play No. 1 doubles alongside Jordan Manning. The pair finished at 3-2 overall, with an 8-5 loss to Hays, and an 8-6 loss to Salina South.
"It was (Brendyn's) first-ever high school doubles match, just to get him some competition at the net, get him more comfortable, get him ready for some matches that he's going to have to go to the net if he wants to win," said Panther tennis coach Chris Manning. "Everybody played well, and we held our own up there."
That meant Marcos Castanon moved into the No. 1 singles spot, where he finished at 1-4, including an 8-0 win against the secondary Hays team. Jacob Parks went 3-2 at No. 2 singles, beating both Hays opponents 8-2, and downing Salina South 8-6.
Kaden Dienes and Cameron Harbaugh defeated Liberal 8-5 and Phillipsburg 8-3 for their two wins on the afternoon.
The varsity squad takes some time off before returning to action at Dodge City on Thursday, April 20.