Lady Lancers Tennis Blows Past Adrian In Non-Conference Play

WINONA LAKE - Grace College’s women’s tennis team had little trouble handling Adrian on Friday. The Lady Lancers won 6-1, securing their third straight win on the young season.

Grace was dominant in doubles’ play, setting the tone for the afternoon. Jayna Armstrong and Dayana Ortega did not drop a game (6-0) at No. 1 doubles.

Kiersten Martin and Lauryn Riegsecker at No. 2 doubles as well as Ellie Hughes and Anna Graves at No. 3 doubles each won by the score of 6-1.

No singles’ court went to extra sets. Ortega was perfect at No. 2 singles, and Martin was also flawless at No. 6.

Morgan Mast produced a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, and Riegsecker won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5.

Armstrong had a stiff challenge at No. 3 singles, battling to a grueling 7-5, 7-5 win to wrap up the afternoon’s matches.

Grace is back in action Saturday, traveling to Goshen for a doubleheader against Goshen and Mt. Vernon Nazarene.



Grace cross country kicks off season at IWU

MARION – Grace’s cross country team made its much-anticipated debut on Friday at the IWU Twilight Invitational.

The women’s team placed seventh overall in the meet, and the men’s squad finished eighth.

“This was a fantastic start for our season. Both the men and women ran well, and we saw some individuals really step up, which will be fun to celebrate,” said Grace head coach Jake Poyner. “We’ll be back on this course in two months for the conference meet. But for now, we will learn and grow, rest and recover and gear up for the next opportunity to race.”

On the women’s side, Grace had two runners finish just outside the top 10. Heather Plastow was 11th out of 180 runners with a time of 18:47, and Mallory Hiatt was five seconds behind her (18:52) for 12th place in her collegiate debut.

Kaelyn Johnson was third for Grace at 20:15, and Elizabeth Moore followed her at 21:03. Makenzie Adams (21:25), Anna Hulstedt (22:23) and Ellie Wagoner (22:25) rounded out the top seven for the Lady Lancers.

On the men’s side, Bryan Hernandez-Rios paced the squad with a 27th-place finish of 26:19. Freshman Macallister Cheek was 43rd overall with a time of 26:49, and Isaac Beatty (26:59) and Logan Rufenacht (27:10) were close behind.

Peter Simmon was fifth for the Lancers at 27:43, and freshman Hayden Mullett was sixth when he crossed the finish line in 27:59.

“Two great standouts tonight were Kaelyn Johnson and Peter Simmon,” Poyner added. “Kaelyn ran her first collegiate race after missing last year with injury, and Peter impressed as well after working with a champion’s diligence all spring and summer. This is just the beginning for our crew.”

The Lancers are back on Sept. 18 with the Ray Bullock Invitational, hosted by Taylor.



Lady Lancers Win Thursday

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Grace College women’s tennis team picked up a pair of wins over Crossroads League opponents St. Francis and Spring Arbor on Thursday.

In the first match of the afternoon, the Lady Lancers cruised to a 7-0 win over the Cougars (1-3, 1-3 CL).

Jayna Armstrong and Dayana Ortega started the day off with a perfect 6-0 win in doubles action. Ellie Hughes and Lauryn Riegsecker clinched the doubles’ point for Grace with a hard fought 6-4 win.

Anna Graves and Gretchen Adams also won their doubles’ contest 6-1.

At the top singles’ spot for the Lady Lancers, Hughes won 6-3, 6-1. Ortega swept both sets (6-0) at the No. 2 spot, and Graves clinched the match with a pair of victories, (6-1, 6-3) at No. 3 singles.

The remaining Lady Lancers — Riegsecker (No. 4 singles), Morgan Mast (No. 5) and Kiersten Martin (No. 6) — also picked up two-set victories.

Grace capped off the day with a 5-2 victory over the host Spring Arbor (2-2, 1-2 CL).

The Lady Lancers once again took the doubles’ point with all three pairs winning their sets.

Armstrong and Ortega won doubles 6-1 from the top slot. Hughes and Riegsecker along with Martin and Mast each won their matches 6-3 to blank the Cougars in doubles.

Grace faced its first adversity of the day when they dropped the top singles’ court.

Armstrong responded well for the Lady Lancers winning in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) from the No. 3 slot. Ortega also picked up a 2-1 win by default.

Riegsecker and Martin secured the win for Grace, winning in straight sets at No. 5 and No. 6 singles respectively.

– Grant Cook



Grace continues dominant start to year

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace’s men’s tennis team picked up two more wins on Thursday, improving to 3-0 on the young season.

The Lancers (3-0, 3-0 Crossroads League) routed St. Francis and Spring Arbor, both by the score of 7-0. The doubleheader was played at SAU as part of the league’s COVID-adjusted schedule.

Grace has not lost a point yet, winning all three of its matches this year 7-0.

The Lancers had a built-in advantage against St. Francis in the opener. USF had to default at No. 3 doubles, No. 5 singles and No. 6 singles.

Pavle Popovic and Jacob Gray battled to a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles, and Milan Savic and Ivan Antinori teamed up for a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles.

Grace used a unique lineup in singles’ play to rest for the doubleheader. David Sandi won at the top singles’ position, 6-0, 6-1, and Kye Barrett ground out a three-set win at No. 2 singles (6-2, 3-6, 10-5).

Francisco Margaria (No. 3 singles) and Antinori (No. 4 singles) cruised to straight set singles’ wins.

In the second match of the day, Grace made quick work of the host SAU. Popovic and Sandi (No. 1 doubles), Max Rozas and Fabricio Galvan (No. 2) and Ramiro Candia and Mauricio Corty (No. 3) all won in doubles to give Grace an early edge.

The singles’ competition was similar. Only Candia at No. 2 singles (6-4, 2-6, 10-6) needed three sets to win. Rozas earned a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles, and Galvan, Sandi, Popovic and Corty won in straight sets at No. 2-6 singles respectively.

The Lancers will travel to Goshen for their next doubleheader, taking on Goshen and Mt. Vernon Nazarene.



Petitt named head bowling coach

WINONA LAKE- Grace College announced the hiring of Ashley Petitt as the head coach for men’s and women’s bowling.

Petitt has been involved with bowling throughout her life. She bowled at Shelbyville High School and has been heavily involved in a bowling league since her college years at Grace.

“I am very excited to lead this program, helping develop students and seeing them grow on and off the lane,” Petitt said. “My goal is to build a program that allows students to not only strengthen their skills but also connect deeper to the Lord and their teammates. It’s a dream come true to return to Grace coaching the bowling teams, and I am very humbled that God’s plan brought me back to Grace.”

Petitt is a familiar face to Grace, having graduated in 2016. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication along with a master’s in higher education.

After graduation, Petitt has served in a variety of roles, including two years at Fairleigh Dickinson University as an instructor and fiscal manager/advisor.

She returned to the area in June where she currently works at Super Seal Incorporated.

“We are thrilled to have Ashley lead our bowling program at Grace College,” said Grace Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe. “Ashley’s enthusiasm and attention to detail will serve her well in this new role, and we look forward to seeing the program develop under her leadership.”

The Lancers will remain at a club sport level for the 2020-21 academic year before looking to transition to varsity status in the future.