newsminer.com

FAIRBANKS — Of the two tennis matches played Tuesday between the North Pole Patriots and Eielson Ravens, each school won once.

Unfortunately for Eielson, due to having only three players in action, the Ravens were forced to forfeit four matches, helping the Patriots to the 5-1 victory at North Pole High School.

In the matches that took place, Ryan Smith of North Pole topped Thomas Baldwin 6-0, 6-1 in boys singles, while Eielson claimed its lone victory as Amanda Williams and Amber Harger edged Victoria Martinez and Amelia Segler, 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (7-4 tiebreaker) in girls doubles.

Harger had been scheduled to play girls singles until Krystal Madison sprained her ankle during warm-ups.

“She said she just stepped on it wrong,” Eielson coach Carol Smith said, adding that the injury doesn’t appear serious.

North Pole won forfeits in both girls singles matches, No. 2 boys singles and mixed doubles.

Due to having just four players, who are all seniors, Eielson can’t afford to lose any of them.

“School starts tomorrow so I told them to spread the word. We’re hoping for more players so they can have a team for next year,” Smith said.

Smith is also in a unique position — she’s coaching both North Pole and Eielson, though ideally a different coach for the Ravens can be found, she said.

“It’s really hard to coach two (teams). I want to root for both of them but that’s really hard to walk that fine line where I’m supporting them both,” said Smith, who has coached just North Pole in past years.

A solution has been found, at least, so that both teams can practice together.

“Since all of these (Eielson) kids live in North Pole, they’re going to come to North Pole (to practice),” she said.