ARLINGTON — Arlington varsity boys tennis, 2-10 in league play and 2-12 overall, hosted Wesco North rival Snohomish (8-6, 8-7) on Oct. 11 in a match that both teams needed to create momentum as the Division Tournament at Stanwood High School on Oct. 18 drew nearer.
The Eagles’ newly assembled doubles teams, for which coach Sean Cunningham combined singles players, appeared cohesive, but the results said otherwise.
“It’s more about measurement to see how they fare,” Cunningham explained. “We’re trying to build program and set goals. My number-one (Trent Sarver) and number-two (Tyler Bradford) have to get used to playing with each other.”
The Panthers dominated throughout, taking six of seven sets to sweep the evening’s matches 7-0.
Snohomish’s Mitch Scott defeated Jeremy King 6-0, 6-2 to start the event. Andrew Ivelia crushed Arlington’s Peter Forster 6-0, 6-1. Jory Strickland yielded one game to Arlington’s Josh Robinson at 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 but Nate Stockwell finished the Eagles’ Connor Ghirardo, 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles play was more of the same.
Panthers Luke Martinson and Zach Martinson edged Trent Sarver and Tyler Bradford of the Eagles, 6-3, 6-2.
Snohomish’s Josiah Perron and Carlos Videla outlasted Cody Olson Brandon Kennedy in a tiebreaker set, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2.
Nate Karsner and Derek Shields gave Snohomish the doubles hat trick, vanquishing Alex Robertson and Austin Brunkhorst, 6-2, 6-3.
Arlington coach Sean Cunningham said this outcome was to be expected. Next year, though, will be much better. His teams’ Oct. 10 performances are much better than the Sept. 15 match, though the result was the same.
“We’re rebuilding this year,” Cunningham said. “We’re not graduating a lot of players, which bodes well for next year. We’ll play that Snohomish team again next year when we have a lot of guys with experience. We’ll have the depth next year to pull it off. Snohomish doesn’t waste points, doesn’t waste opportunities. It’s not a crime to look at other teams and say, why can’t we do it like they do?”
Cunningham said Arlington’s Oct. 13 match at Monroe was critical to Arlington’s District playoff seeding, though their chances are all but dashed with a 2-11, 2-13 record as of Oct. 11. The Eagles have since beaten Monroe on Oct. 13 and fallen at Lake Stevens on Oct. 14 to finish the regular season at 3-11, 3-12.
In singles play against Monroe, Howard Chen swept King 6-0, 6-0. Garrett Amsberry of Monroe slammed Foster 6-0, 6-1; Eagle Ghirerdo bagged Bearcat Dustin Haynes 6-0, 6-0; Dillon Bull poached Robinson 6-1, 6-1.
In doubles, Sarver and Bradford beat Jordan Lindquist and Nick Bruton 6-3, 6-2; Olson and Kennedy outmatched David Garrison and Mason Harris 6-4, 6-4; Robertson and Brunkhorst edged Stephen Fordham and Korey Hope 6-4, 6-4.
Against Lake Stevens, Tyler Storz outlasted Jeremy King 7-5, 3-6, 6-4; Andrei Arevalo crushed Forster 6-2, 6-1; Gavin Gershmel finished Ghirardo 7-5, 6-3; Tyler Hilde vanquished Josh Robinson 6-2, 6-2. In doubles, Kramer Hansen and Grant Shultz handled Sarver and Bradford 2-6, 6-0, 7-5; Kennedy and Olson sank Andrew Moe and Ryan Lian 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 7-6 (11-9) and Alex Thompson and Jackson Finaly beat Robertson and Brunkhurst 6-3, 6-3.
