LINDSBORG, Kan. (BethanySwedes.com) – On September 6 & 7, Bethany College hosted the fourth annual Bethany College Invitational Tournament. A total of 95 players (45 men, 50 women) from seven scholls competed in flighted draws throughout the weekend. The matches we played at Bethany College’s Lindquist Tennis Center and at the Ron Dahlsten Tennis Complex at Smoky Valley High School.
Women’s Tournament
Highlights from Day 1 doubles included a third-place finish for Sophomores Kyla Metro and Karee Adam in the B Draw. Their final win was against rivals our from Salina, an 8-2 victory against Slack & Camp. The team of Junior Riley Ahlstedt and Sophomore Makenna Russom finished their semifinal run with a fourth-place finish against Castillero & Schroller of Doane, losing 8-1.
During Saturday’s singles competition, the Swedes stayed very busy with three of their players advancing to the semifinals, and three others advancing through the consolation bracket to those individual championships. Freshman Helen Harbit advanced to her final in the D Draw with wins against Steeman of Fort Hays State University and Fankhuaser of Sterling, eventually falling 8-1 to Gill, also of Hays. In the B Draw, Junior Maria Mistereck and Sophomore Kyla Metro both advanced to the semifinals before meeting in the third-place match. Mistereck was able to win that pairing with a score of 8-3. Junior Ana Castillo won her consolation C Draw bracket with an 8-6 victory against Castillero of Doane. Freshman Kelsee Adam also completed her consolation tour with an 8-5 win against Sterling’s LaTourell in the F Draw. Her sister, Sophomore Karee Adam, finished as consolation runner-up to Steeman of Hays in the D Draw (8-4). Freshman Skyy Washington was also a runner-up in the consolation bracket E Draw to Schwarzkopf of Doane (8-4).
Coach DeWitt had this to say: “I had a great problem this weekend; too many semifinal and final matches to watch. I feel like our players played their tails off all weekend and we have a lot to be proud of. It was good to see some girls hitting later season form early this year, and seeing the freshmen step up and compete immediately again this year is always exciting. We’ll need to keep improving, but I know our girls will spend this week getting ready.”
Men’s Tournament
Highlights from Day 1 doubles included a B Draw Championship for Senior Zeke Mumford and Freshman Francisco Bravo. Their championship came through a come-from-behind tiebreak victory against Sterling’s Felipoff & Bogomoltz, 8-7, 7-4. In the A Draw, Senior Carlos Rodriguez and Sophomore Martin Priban earned the consolation-runner up after a tiebreak loss to Sterling’s team of Gaboardi & Ishida, also with a score of 8-7, 7-4. In the C Draw, Junior Daniel Lozano and Sophomore Amare Campbell earned the consolation championship with an 8-2 victory against Tabor’s team of Ferley & Branam.
After beginning singles on Friday, the semifinals and championships were played during Saturday with near-perfect weather. The Swedes were able to represent in the semifinals of three different draws. In the A Draw, Bravo was able to advance to the Championship match before losing a tiebreak loss (8-7, 7-3) to Purizaca, of Doane University. Priban, in the B Draw, was able to complete a championship run with an 8-4 victory over Molle of Sterling. Lozano, playing in the D Draw, finished his weekend with third place, defeating Avila of Doane.
Coach DeWitt was overall content with his teams after the weekend saying: “I think we had several things go right this weekend. Fran and Martin getting to their finals on Saturday was a great start to the year, and Fran and Zeke getting a big win Friday night was also great. I think we have lots to build on this week, and a fair bit to clean up as well. We’ll be ready for next weekend.”
Up Next…
The Swedes will return to play at home again next weekend as hosts for the KCAC Fall Individual Championship. Play begins at 9:00 am on Friday, September 13 at both the Ron Dahlsten Tennis Complex at Smoky Valley High School (Men) and the Lindquist Tennis Center on Bethany College’s campus (Women).
