newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — The Lathrop Malemutes and West Valley Wolfpack continued their winning ways in Mid Alaska Conference high school tennis action Wednesday at the Dan Ramras Community Tennis Courts.

Both teams won by identical 6-1 scores, as Lathrop topped North Pole and West Valley upended Monroe Catholic.

Several freshmen turned in strong performances for the Malemutes, according to coach Milo Griffin.

“We had three freshmen in there today, and they all did real well,” Griffin said. “This should give them some confidence for later in the season.”

Freshman Mackenzie Calvillo posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over the Patriots’ Katie Callahan. Freshman Jessa Boertje completed the sweep of girls singles for the Malemutes with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Kelsey Scott.

Lathrop won all three doubles matches. Becca Gryder and Annelise Bachelder teamed up to win the girls match 6-0, 6-4 over Kayla Arthofer and Victoria Martinez. Mixed doubles went to Max Hesser-Knoll and Anya Garrett with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Laurie Geyer and Mason Schoemaker. Zach Fitzgerald and Tyler Loud earned the boys doubles points by forfeit.

In boys singles, Lathrop’s Sean Sullivan downed Ryan Smith, 6-4, 6-1. Phillip Martinez scored North Pole’s only point of the match with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-2, 13-11 win over Lathrop freshman Kade Fitzgerald in the No. 2 match.

Wolfpack victorious

Monroe Catholic’s Eric Ringstad was the only player on the Rams to notch a point against West Valley, as he scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over Ken Sample in boys No. 1 singles.

West Valley won the rest of the matches, including a pair of forfeits.

Lee Edward notched a 6-0, 6-1 win over Joe Byrnes in the No. 2 boys singles event. In girls singles, West Valley’s Caitlin Deutsch notched a 6-2, 6-4 win over Elish Saunders. Loni Ellsworth followed that up with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Megan Jones in the No. 2 match.

In mixed doubles, the Wolfpack picked up a point when Andrew Bishop and Teresa Larry teamed up for a 6-1, 6-5 win over Jim Winfree and Cassie Ringstad. West Valley won the boys and girls doubles matches by forfeit.