NILES — It didn’t matter that the Dowagiac tennis team lost both of its season-opening matches Thursday at Niles High School.

The Chieftains were still winners because they stepped out on the court with 12 players and fielded a team for the first time in a year.

Due to a lack of numbers last year, Dowagiac was forced to cancel its season.

But the Chieftains returned to the court and took on Bridgman and then host Niles.

Dowagiac lost 6-2 to the Bees and were shutout (8-0) by the Vikings.

“I’m happy to have 12 players out here and I’m happy to have so many young players out here,” first-year coach Sonny Swartz said. “It’s good. It’s exciting that Dowagiac has tennis again.

“I like that we didn’t give up. Everybody fought. This is our first match, so we have a long season ahead of us and I see nothing but great things.”

Marc Tyrakowski and Ethan Dussell were the lone winners for the Chieftains against Bridgman.

Tryakowski defeated Zach Bauer 6-1 and 6-2, while Dussell, who picked up a racket for the first time in June according to Swartz, defeated Chris Mensinger 6-3 and 7-6. He won the tiebreaker 7-0.

 

Dowagiac…2

Bridgman…6

Singles

1. Marc Tryakowski (D) d. Zach Bauer 6-1, 6-2; 2. Evan Hauck (B) d. Jon Robinson 6-1, 6-0; 3. Vincent Milano (B) d. Austin Jackson 7-5, 2-6, 1-6; 4. Ethan Dussell (D) d. Chris Mensinger 6-3, 7-6

 

Doubles

1. Brandon Mensinger-Matt Starkey (B) d. David Brogan-Jordan Hagemann 6-3, 6-0; 2. Dominic Milano-Ed Shaver (B) d. Zach Davis-Mitch Warsko 6-1, 6-0; 3. Devin Hays-Nick Knoulton (B) d. Vaughn Herter-Tony Kidman 6-1, 6-4; 4. Steven Walker-Ryan Westling (B) d. Jennings Brosnan-Ethan Wagner 6-2, 6-3

 

Dowagiac…0

Niles…8

Singles

1. Brad Miller (N) d. Marc Tyrakowski 2-6, 6-2, 6-3; 2. Nick Zeigert (N) d. Jon Robinson 6-0, 6-0; 3. Michael Geiger (N) d. Austin Jackson 6-0, 6-0; 4. Rob Lundberg (N) d. Ethan Dussell 3-6, 6-1

 

Doubles

1. Alec Brown-Matt Miller (N) d. David Brogan-Jordan Hagemann 6-0, 6-0; 2. Gevanta Nichols-Brent McGowan (N) d. Zach Davis-Mitch Warsko 6-0, 6-0; 3. Matt Lee-Nick Borkowski (N) d. Vaughn Herter-Tony Kidman 6-0, 6-0; 4. Derek Brown-Gavin Rasler (N) d. Jennings Brosnan-Ethan Wagner 3-6, 0-6

 

Records

Niles 5-1, Dowagiac 0-1