The Ellsworth varsity tennis team opened the season at home at their invitational tournament. Ellsworth fielded two teams, designated as Ellsworth Black and Ellsworth Red.

In team awards, the Ellsworth Black team tied for first place with Hoisington. Trego Community placed third, Colby fourth, Ellsworth Red fifth, Lyons sixth, Cimarron seventh and Goodland eighth.

Head coach Eric Anderson was pleased with the team’s performance.

“I felt that the team performed well for our first meet. Still lots of room to improve, but we played well,” he said. “We have about eight to nine young men who have the abilities to help us out at the varsity level. We just need to continue to improve each day at practice and at tennis meets.

“We have some pretty good depth. The six seniors, Wade Janssen, Seth Kyler, Jacob Maze, Dulio Placencia, Guage Weder and Rex West, have been leading the way at practice.”

Playing on the Ellsworth Black team were freshman Owen Schultz, No. 1 singles; junior Ismael De La Cruz and Kyler, No. 1 doubles; junior Carson Taylor, No. 2 singles; and junior Dalton Weder and Guage Weder, No. 2 doubles.

Playing on the Ellsworth Red team were Placencia, No. 1 singles; junior Drew Davis and Maze, No. 1 doubles; sophomore Mason Wooten, No. 2 singles; and Janssen and West, No. 2 doubles.

In individual results, Schultz placed second in No. 1 singles while Placencia placed sixth.

In No. 2 singles, Taylor placed second and Wooten placed eighth.

In No. 1 doubles, the team of Davis and Maze placed second while De La Cruz and Kyler placed third.

In No. 2 doubles, the team of Weder and Weder placed first. The team of Janssen and West placed fourth.

Anderson said the team has been working to improve their skills.

“We have spent a lot of time talking and working on our footwork and understanding what to do on the tennis court in different situations,” he said. “Our biggest challenge is taking one day at a time, one tennis meet at a time and getting better each and every day in some way, shape or form.”

The team will be on the road April 14 to Sterling for tournament play.