Tennis team completes busy week with matches against Pateros, Entiat and Ephrata

The Cascade tennis team had three matches last week, but in only one of the matches could the full varsity team actually play. The Kodiaks started the week on March 19 with a home match against 2B Pateros.
Pateros was only able to bring four boys, but they did put together some good matches. Both Sam Keziah and Finn Johnson won at singles.
“They are both finding their early season game but playing good tennis. I look forward to a successful season from both of them. At doubles, Raven Dawson and Giovanni Luchesi won in straight sets 6-4, 7-5. They have never played together before and had fun with the challenge,” said Cascade Head Coach Mark Hassinger.
The team played at 2B Entiat on March 20. Again, they did not take their normal lineup. The Tigers only had three boys. Dawson won in singles, 6-0, 6-0. Arthur Drake and Giovanni Luchesi won doubles in straight sets. On the girls’ side, everyone won in straight sets.
“Kolby Hunt played number one singles, Maddie Vandel played number two singles and Dorothy Espinosa and Carmen Herrera played number one doubles,” Hassinger said.
Cascade hosted 2A Ephrata on March 21. The Tigers brought over 30 players. The Kodiaks girls lost 3-2, while the boys won 3-2. In her first match of the year, Megan Evans lost her first set 2-6, but came back to win the next two, 6-2, 6-4.
“She had some rust from not playing last year. And, this was her first match this year. She settled down and took care of business in sets 2 and 3,” Hassinger said of Evans.  
Number two singles, Kolby Hunt fought a hard battle, but lost 6-4, 6-4. Number three singles, Maddie Vandel won 6-1, 6-2.
“She is moving really well on the court and has great court awareness. She played her freshman year but has not played for the last two seasons.  It’s great to see her back on the court and I look forward to great things from her,” Hassinger said of Vandel.
At number one doubles, Carmen Herrera and Dorothy Espinoa lost a close match, 6-3, 7-5. Hassinger said they are still trying to figure things out at doubles, but expects them to have a great year. At number two doubles, Hassinger played a couple freshmen without much experience, Molly Wiser and Stella Johnson. They lost 6-3, 6-3. “They are very new to the game and as the year goes on, they will rise to the occasion,” he said.
For boys, Hassinger said it appeared the Tigers played their stronger players at doubles while Cascade played their stronger players at singles. It worked out well.
Finn Johnson played number one singles and won 6-0, 6-0.  Sam Keziah played number two singles and won 6-0, 6-0.  Raven Dawson played number three singles and won 6-0, 6-1.  
“At number one doubles, Giovanni Luchesi and Arthur Drake lost 6-2, 6-2. Both players are new this year and still figuring things out. At number two doubles, we had first year players Luke Haferman and Josh Pederesen. They put up a great fight but lost in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 5-7. All in alll a good match,” Hassinger said.
Cascade hosted Chelan on March 27 for their league opener. Results were not available before press time. On March 30, they host a non-league game against Connell. On Saturday, they return to league play at home against Okanogan.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.