The Trenton Bulldogs lost a head-to-head duel with Maryville 4-1, but bounced back with victories against Benton and Cameron, both by 4-1 finals, to claim 5th place at Friday’s Benton Tennis Tournament in St. Joseph.
In the opening match, the Bulldogs struggled against the MEC’s Spoofhounds, with the only THS victory coming from #2 singles player Nick Shields, in 10-2 fashion against Maryville’s Archer. Results favoring Maryville were Kempf over Davis, 10-6, and three doubles wins, with Suchan and Lyle beating Whitney and Ockenfels, 10-love, Jasinski and Hermelink downing Houghton and Neal, 10-7, with Roush and Dunlap taking down May and Sibbit, 10-2.
In the consolation semifinals, Trenton’s only defeat against the host Benton Cardinals was with #1 singles, where Turner beat Davis in a close 10-8 duel. Shields, for the Bulldogs, took a 10-3 win against Martin. In doubles, Whitney and Ockenfels won 10-2, Houghton and Neal took a 10-1 win, while May and Sibbit won by forfeit.
In the consolation final against Cameron, Davis got his first win of the day, 10-5 over Zeit. Shields won his singles match by forfeit. Curtis and Meister picked up a win for the Dragons, 10-5 over Whitney and Ockenfels. Trenton closed out the match with a 10-5 win for Houghton and Neal, and a 10-2 victory for May and Sibbit.
Nick Shields had a fine day for Trenton, finishing second place in the “Flight 2 singles” competition. Creed Houghton and Wyatt Neal finished in third place for Trenton in #2 doubles.
Bishop LeBlond won the Benton Tournament, beating Maryville in the title match 3-2. Chillicothe, after a 3-2 first round win over Benton, lost to Maryville in the semifinals, 3-2. The Hornets salvaged third place with a 3-2 win over MEC rival Savannah.
Individual champions were Savannah’s Chase Furgison (Singles Flight 1) and Savanna’s Spencer Rosenak (Singles Flight 2), with LeBlond’s Steven Mears and John Lierz beating Chillicothe’s Nate McKiddy and Brandon Lamp in the doubles flight 1 title match, while Chillicothe’s Lane Bonderer and Cody Evans won the doubles flight 2 title, and Connor Strough and G. Lombardino of LeBlond winning the doubles flight 3 crown.
