Triton Tennis Team Tames Wildcats
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
With Triton’s No. 1 and 2 doubles teams having already wrapped up 6-0, 6-0 victories, the Trojans (5-3) needed just one win on any of the three singles courts to get the team victory.
However, Whitko junior Cole Bechtold won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, and the Wildcats (1-4) on the No. 1 and 2 singles courts were being pesky.
Despite the fight in the Whitko players, their Triton counterparts subdued them, claiming the 4-1 team victory.
“We knew their three singles spots were their best spots,” Triton coach Allen Peckham said. “I knew we had to play our best, especially at 1 and 2 (singles). They had some solid players there. Our guys stepped up. I thought we got a little tired at the end, but we still dug down and pulled through.”
On the No. 2 singles court, Triton junior Jared Fisher coasted to a 6-0 victory in the opening set, but found himself down 4-3 to Whitko senior Blake Castle in second.
Just when it looked like the match may go into a third set, Fisher settled down and won the last three games, winning the set 6-4.
“I just went over there to give him a little pump up,” Peckham said of his message to Fisher. “I said, ‘Just start concentrating better.’ It just gets to the point where you get tired and you lose focus. I just had to remind him to dig a little deeper and keep focused.”
Fisher’s win wrapped up the team victory for Triton, but Whitko senior Tyler Baugher wasn’t giving in against Triton senior Dean Howdeshell at No. 1 singles, which is what first-year coach Tera Castle likes to see.
“Even if it’s a team loss, I want the boys to individually do well and come out with a win,” she said.
Falling 6-1 in the first set, Baugher trailed 3-0 in the second before rallying to take a 4-3 lead.
“I just think they were getting more motivated,” Castle said. “Sometimes that’s all it takes for them – is a little bit of motivation and getting pumped up, knowing, ‘Hey, I can do this and I can win this point.’”
Although he rallied, Howdeshell recovered to get the 7-5 set win.
The match was Triton’s third in three nights, and the busy schedule isn’t quite over yet.
“We have one more match this week, Saturday at home against Bethany,” Peckham said. “So, we have seven matches in nine days. We’re going to be busy.”
For the Wildcats, they’re back on the courts Tuesday at Rochester.
With just one win in five tries, Castle is looking for small improvements along the way.
“We actually only started out with four players,” she said. “We built that up to eight, but we only have three returners from last year. I do have a lot of guys that are just working on the basics.”
TRITON 4, WHITKO 1
SINGLES: No. 1 – Dean Howdeshell (T) def. Tyler Baugher 6-1, 7-5; No. 2 – Jared Fisher (T) def. Blake Castle 6-0, 6-4; No. 3 – Cole Bechtold (W) def. Alex Eib 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES: No. 1 – Lucas Shafer/Darrin Harrell (T) def. Alex Bechtold/Reed Brace 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 – Jake Oldham/Austin Sellers (T) def. Alex Robbins/Bailey Platt 6-0, 6-0
Records: Triton 5-3, Whitko 1-4[[In-content Ad]]
With Triton’s No. 1 and 2 doubles teams having already wrapped up 6-0, 6-0 victories, the Trojans (5-3) needed just one win on any of the three singles courts to get the team victory.
However, Whitko junior Cole Bechtold won 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, and the Wildcats (1-4) on the No. 1 and 2 singles courts were being pesky.
Despite the fight in the Whitko players, their Triton counterparts subdued them, claiming the 4-1 team victory.
“We knew their three singles spots were their best spots,” Triton coach Allen Peckham said. “I knew we had to play our best, especially at 1 and 2 (singles). They had some solid players there. Our guys stepped up. I thought we got a little tired at the end, but we still dug down and pulled through.”
On the No. 2 singles court, Triton junior Jared Fisher coasted to a 6-0 victory in the opening set, but found himself down 4-3 to Whitko senior Blake Castle in second.
Just when it looked like the match may go into a third set, Fisher settled down and won the last three games, winning the set 6-4.
“I just went over there to give him a little pump up,” Peckham said of his message to Fisher. “I said, ‘Just start concentrating better.’ It just gets to the point where you get tired and you lose focus. I just had to remind him to dig a little deeper and keep focused.”
Fisher’s win wrapped up the team victory for Triton, but Whitko senior Tyler Baugher wasn’t giving in against Triton senior Dean Howdeshell at No. 1 singles, which is what first-year coach Tera Castle likes to see.
“Even if it’s a team loss, I want the boys to individually do well and come out with a win,” she said.
Falling 6-1 in the first set, Baugher trailed 3-0 in the second before rallying to take a 4-3 lead.
“I just think they were getting more motivated,” Castle said. “Sometimes that’s all it takes for them – is a little bit of motivation and getting pumped up, knowing, ‘Hey, I can do this and I can win this point.’”
Although he rallied, Howdeshell recovered to get the 7-5 set win.
The match was Triton’s third in three nights, and the busy schedule isn’t quite over yet.
“We have one more match this week, Saturday at home against Bethany,” Peckham said. “So, we have seven matches in nine days. We’re going to be busy.”
For the Wildcats, they’re back on the courts Tuesday at Rochester.
With just one win in five tries, Castle is looking for small improvements along the way.
“We actually only started out with four players,” she said. “We built that up to eight, but we only have three returners from last year. I do have a lot of guys that are just working on the basics.”
TRITON 4, WHITKO 1
SINGLES: No. 1 – Dean Howdeshell (T) def. Tyler Baugher 6-1, 7-5; No. 2 – Jared Fisher (T) def. Blake Castle 6-0, 6-4; No. 3 – Cole Bechtold (W) def. Alex Eib 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES: No. 1 – Lucas Shafer/Darrin Harrell (T) def. Alex Bechtold/Reed Brace 6-0, 6-0; No. 2 – Jake Oldham/Austin Sellers (T) def. Alex Robbins/Bailey Platt 6-0, 6-0
Records: Triton 5-3, Whitko 1-4[[In-content Ad]]
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