The Class B Boys State Tennis Tournament will wrap up today at the Wood Center in Lincoln and the Scottsbluff Bearcats are hoping for another strong showing after a big day on Thursday.
Scottsbluff went a combined 8-3 in their matches yesterday highlighted by Oliver Carpenter going 3-0 at No. 2 singles as he’s in a position to finish anywhere from 1st to 4th place today.
At No. 1 singles Kian Blomstedt went 2-1 and the No. 1 doubles team of Matthew Hafner and Joey Escamilla also went 2-1 and those guys will all play today for 5th through 8th place.
Head coach Darren Emerick couldn’t have been more pleased with how the opening day turned out.
“We knew we had a very competitive team coming into this season and the level of play today confirmed that at the state tournament today. The boys team has not earned a medal (1-8 place) at state in my eight years at Scottsbluff and to pick up medals at both #1 and #2 singles is huge. Both Kian and Oliver have worked hard to play at the highest level in the state and I am extremely proud of their play today and look forward to their matches tomorrow.”
Also yesterday for Scottsbluff the No. 2 doubles team of Thatcher Thomalla and Nick Roberts went 1-1 in their matches at State yesterday.
Scottsbluff will start the final day in fifth place in the Class B team standings.
“One of our goals has been to make the top 10 as a team in the state tournament. We have hovered just outside that goal for a few seasons, but are sitting at #5 after day one and are looking forward to our strongest finish in memory since the last Scottsbluff state championship in 1984”, coach Emerick said.
Gering finished at 1-4 in their State Tournament matches with the lone win coming at No. 2 doubles from the team of Aidyn McDonald and Dominic Mendez.
For Alliance they got one win from No. 2 singles player Tremaine Red Bear.
