PANTHERS DEFEATED BY FRUITA<\/p>\n
Opening homecoming weekend against the always tough Fruita Monument Wildcats, the Panthers lost six of seven matches, yet the team\u2019s lone win was a memorable one.<\/p>\n
Competing against Matt Harris in the No. 1 singles match, Panthers\u2019 senior Logan Dean put on a show, evoking images of David slaying Goliath, in a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Dean) lost the first set 1-6, and he just wasn\u2019t able to keep the unforced errors down,\u201d said Panthers\u2019 head coach Dan Wood, describing the match. Then, he just decided to keep the ball in play and hit accurate winners.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy strategy for this season has been to keep the ball in play and play the points out,\u201d Dean said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I did, and I was able to get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the No. 2 singles match, Panthers\u2019 senior Graham Cathey was defeated by the hard serving Randy Hurshman, 1-6, 1-6.<\/p>\n
Playing in his first high school singles match, Panthers\u2019 junior Samir Berrada suffered a similar fate in the No. 3 singles match, losing 1-6, 2-6, but for the team\u2019s top underclassman, the loss provided valuable experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I probably could have done a bit better, but overall (the match) went in the right direction,\u201d said Berrada. \u201cI got some experience for later, and for a first (singles) match, it wasn\u2019t bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
At No. 1 doubles, Panthers Todd Underwood and Ford Wegner were defeated by Gabriel Trieder and Kelsan Reimer 4-6, 3-6.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were good all around,\u201d said Wegner, describing his team\u2019s tough opponents. \u201cWhen they had the opportunity to make a nice shot, they took it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Panthers\u2019 No. 2 doubles duo of Si Eckart and Xavier Eddy fell 0-6, 0-6, while the Panthers No. 3 doubles team of Dayne Black and Tyler Daniel lost 0-6, 0-6.<\/p>\n
Rounding out the varsity matches, Panthers\u2019 No. 4 doubles players Cody Canzona and Wyatt Yates were defeated 1-6, 2-6.<\/p>\n
VICTORIOUS OVER MONTROSE<\/p>\n
Following up on their tough loss to Fruita, the Panthers hosted the Montrose Indians on Saturday, Sept. 28, and with a large crowd in attendance, the team did not disappoint.<\/p>\n
Kicking off the team\u2019s 7-0 victory, Dean posted his second consecutive win at No. 1 singles, besting Jared Warren in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.<\/p>\n
At No. 2 singles, Cathey beat Andrew Johnson 6-0, 6-1, while Berrada recorded his first high school singles win over Brad Sawyer, 6-4, 6-4.<\/p>\n
Playing a pro-set to eight in the No. 1 doubles match, Underwood and Wegner won 8-0, while the Panthers\u2019 No. 2 doubles team of Eckart and Eddy recorded an 8-4 pro-set victory.<\/p>\n
In the No. 3 doubles match, Black and Daniel won 6-1, 6-1, while the Panthers\u2019 No. 4 doubles players, Yates and Canzona, recorded an 8-6 pro-set victory.<\/p>\n
With their regular season now complete, the Panthers will practice for three days before travelling to Grand Junction to compete in the Region VIII tournament, Oct. 4-5.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to finish third or fourth at (regionals),\u201d said Wood. \u201cThat would be a good achievement for us.\u201d<\/p>\n