Ellsworth Jr./Sr.

High School hosted seven schools for its Varsity Invitational Tournament April 8. The Ellsworth team placed sixth with 31 points. Central Plains Jr./Sr. High School placed first with 64.

“We have a young team that is finding their way on the tennis courts and is headed in the right direction,” head coach Eric Anderson said of the team’s effort.

“I’m proud of Carson Taylor for placing third at No. 2 singles. He lost his first match of the day to the same person 1-8, and then turned it around later in the day and won 8-5.”

Individual results for the Bearcats include: Junior Guage Weder placed fifth in No. 1 singles; sophomore Taylor placed third in No. 2 singles; the No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Drew Davis and junior Seth Kyler placed sixth; and the No. 2 doubles pairing of senior Tyler Conley and junior Jacob Maze placed fifth.

Other teams placing at the tournament were Ellinwood, second with 45 points; Phillipsburg, tie for third with 43 points; Sterling tie for third with 43 points; Salina South High School fifth with 39 points; Larned seventh with 15 points; and Sacred Heart High School eighth with 0 points.

“We have 13 players on the team, and I feel that we could have eight or nine different players on our varsity team this year,” Anderson said.

“Our goal is to always have the best six players on the varsity team at the end of the season.

The good thing is that everyone learned and was better at the end of the day.

“Every day is different — warm, cold, windy and windier — we just roll with the punches and try to get better each and every day.”

The Bearcats will have tournament hosting duties again on April 17 after attending the Sterling Tournament April 15.

“We are hosting a big invitational that will be packed with some pretty good tennis teams,” Anderson said. “I look forward to seeing our players compete.”