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Photo by John Wagner

Photo by John Wagner

FAIRBANKS — The high school tennis season got off to a flying start on Monday afternoon with some spirited competition featuring all six Mid Alaska Conference teams.

West Valley opened its season with a 5-1 win against Monroe Catholic, while Lathrop defeated North Pole, 5-2, and Hutchison beat Eielson, 4-2.

“It was just great to see the kids out their playing today,” West Valley coach Debbie Miller said.

There’s plenty of action scheduled later this week.

On Wednesday at the Dan Ramras Community Tennis Courts, Monroe Catholic takes on Hutchison at 3:15 p.m., with West Valley and Lathrop locking horns at 6 p.m.

On Thursday, Eielson plays North Pole at 5 p.m. in North Pole.

Lathrop prevails

The Lathrop Malemutes opened their season and tuned up for a Wednesday afternoon showdown with West Valley by defeating the North Pole Patriots, 5-2, on Wednesday evening in North Pole.

The Malemutes swept the girls singles matches.

Jessa Boertje posted a 6-0, 6-0 win against North Pole’s Victoria Martinez. Annelise Batchelder came away with a 6-3, 6-0 victory against the Patriots’ Laurie Geyer.

The Malemutes also captured the mixed doubles match when Zach Fitzgerald and Kayla Parsons downed North Pole Adam Wurster and Brenna Schaake, 6-1, 6-0.

Lathrop earned two points by default — boys No. 2 singles and boys doubles.

North Pole earned its points in the boys No. 1 singles match and the mixed doubles event.

Ryan Smith captured the No. 1 boys singles match for North Pole with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph against Lathrop’s Kade Fitzgerald.

In the girls doubles match, Amelia Segler teamed up with Jolene Boyd to defeat Lathrop’s Trina Marok and Lilly Gesin, 6-4, 6-5 (7-2 tiebreaker).

West Valley wins

West Valley won two of the three matches that were contested at The Athletic Club South because Monroe still doesn’t have any girls eligible to take the court.

Cousins Eric Ringstad of Monroe Catholic and Joe Sample of West Valley locked horns in the boys No. 1 singles match. Ringstad earned the win and the only point for the Rams, 6-0, 6-1.

“Eric has become a very strong player,” Miller said. “It was a great match to watch. He has really grown as a player and is the one to beat this year.”

Ringstad recently returned from the USTA Pacific Northwest Sectionals where he won his first two matches.

West Valley’s Kelly Ranchoff captured the No. 2 boys singles match with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph against Nathan Bowder. The Wolfpack also won the boys doubles match as Nick Raugust and Jeremy Weaver downed Dan Bunten and Jim Winfree, 6-2, 6-2.

West Valley won both girls singles matches and the mixed doubles event by default. There was a double forfeit.

Hutchison triumphs

Hutchison and Eielson split the four matches that were played, but Hutch earned two points by default to claim the victory.

Hutchison won both girls singles matches. Kelsey Peterson downed Reilly Swammy 6-0, 6-0 in the

No. 1 match, while Lynnette Thompson edged Sarah Peterson 6-3, 1-6 (7-6) in the No. 2 match.

Hutch also earned default wins in boys doubles and missed doubles. There was no girls doubles match.

Eielson captured both boys singles matches. Ben Aman slipped past Dylan Edwards, 6-1, 1-6 (7-5) and Taylor Jacobs defeated Ben Leslie 6-3, 6-2.