The Benton Cardinals hosted the annual Benton Tennis Tournament on Friday, with the Trenton Bulldogs continuing their strong spring season with individual championships, both in dominating fashion, for #1 singles entry Nick Shields, and #2 singles player Gabe Swann, while Trenton, struggling in doubles play against eventual team champion Maryville, had to settle for second place on the team side of the competition.
In singles play, Trenton’s Shields went a combined 30-0 to beat Taylor (Lafayette) in the first round, Stevenson (LeBlond) in the semifinals, and Walk (Maryville) in the finals to take the #1 singles top spot. Swann lost only one point, that in the title match in a 10-1 win over Long of Maryville, to take the #2 singles crown. In the first round, Swann overwhelmed Rainez of Lafayette 10-love, then beat Hovey of LeBlond in the semifinals 10-0.
Against the Fighting Irish of Lafayette and the LeBlond Golden Eagles, Trenton’s doubles entries were nearly as dominant, with the #1 doubles team of Kade Ockenfels and Creed Houghton beating Davis and Hamm of Lafayette 10-1, and Rocha and Hudson of LeBlond 10-love. At #2 doubles, the Bulldogs duo of Neal and Elliott won in the first round 10-love (vs Lowe/Henson of Lafayette), then claimed a 10-4 win over Eidman and Burri of LeBlond. At #3 doubles, Trenton’s Harris and Otto moved past the first round by forfeit, then claimed a 10-1 win over Schreck and Canchola of Bishop LeBlond.
In the team final against the Maryville Spoofhounds, the Bulldogs singles players were strong, with Shields and Swann taking wins by a combined total of 20-1. However, Maryville claimed three decisive doubles victories to win the final, 3-2. At #3 doubles, Hayes and Baker downed Harris and Otto 10-1, while in a closer #2 doubles match, Gustafson and Stone were a 10-6 victor over Neal and Elliott. In the closest match between the ‘Dogs and the ‘Hounds, Trenton’s #1 doubles team of Ockenfels and Houghton met Maryville’s team of Kempf and Hermelink, with the Maryville side taking a hard fought 10-8 win to clinch the team title.
Ockenfels and Houghton took home the third place medals for Trenton in #1 doubles, while Isaac Harris and Weston Otto took the second place hardware in #3 doubles for the Bulldogs.
Photo credit – David Sager / THS Boy’s Tennis / St. Joseph, MO
