By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Coach Jill Weber's Niles Viking boys' tennis team scored its first victory of the season 6-2 at Niles High School Wednesday afternoon against visiting neighbor Brandywine.
"These are the hardest-working young men that I have ever had!" proclaimed Weber. "Yesterday we practiced from nine to noon, and they begged me to practice more. We did, for two hours, later."
Practice later must pay off, because the Vikings really looked good. First seed Jordan Parks easily won his singles match 6-0, 6-1.
Zach Payne won his match against Travis Bakeman 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. This was not without a valiant effort by Bakeman, who, in the first set, fought back to 5-4 before succumbing to Payne. In the second set, Bakeman came back to really put some "English" on the ball to win it.
In the third set despite some fine serves from Bakeman, the steady, patient returns by Payne eventually achieved the victory.
Brandywine had a stalwart effort from Jake Harris, who defeated Adam Jenkins soundly in singles 6-0, 6-4. Senior Shane Bankston and Junior Zach Edquist rallied Brandywine's efforts with a doubles win over Jordan Bailey and Anthony Gladden, chasing them all over the court. Bankston practically finished the second contest with two hard overhead slams.
In a tight doubles set Niles' Kyle Lee and Dustin Jankoviak narrowly bested Brandywine's Dan Whitney and Cameron Ordransky 7-6,6-2.
Brandywine came back to tie the first set 5-5, then took a 6-5 lead, but succumbed at the end.
Niles' Matt Ftacek started out with a 4-0 lead in his first set, Trey Brenner battled back to come close at 4-3. Ftacek fought off some strong forehand and backhand attempts to win it, 6-3. Then Ftacek finished it off 6-2 in the second set.
Niles assistant coach Greg Gunder commiserated with Brandywine coach Dave Sidenbender, "We both missed some easy unforced errors.
"Six of our 12 starters are first year players," commented Sidenbender. "We're really improving over our first match with South Haven, 'he said, with enthusiam.
Niles…6
Brandywine…2
Singles
1. Jordan Parks (N) d. Ethan Mason 6-0,6-1; 2. Zach Payne (N) d. Travis Bakeman 6-4,2-6,6-1; 3. Matt Ftacek (N) d. Trey Brenner 6-3,6-2; 4. Jake Harris (B) d. Adam Jenkins 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. Kyle Lee/Dustin Jonkoviak (N) d. Dan Whitney/Cameron Ondrasky 7-6,6-2; 2. Brad Benjamin Jordan Arnold d. Tyler Weeks/Justin Palmer 6-1,6-2; 3. Shane Bankston Zach Edquist (Br.) d. Jordan Bailey/Anthony Gladden 6-3,6-4; 4. Ricky Jurgonski/ Chris Archer (N) d. Dan Reidenbach/Chris Brady 7-5,6-4
Junior Vasity
Singles
Colin Leonard (N) d. Dan Blank 6-0; Chad Majerek (N) d. Dan Blank 6-2; Matt Karsten (N) d. Cody Udell 6-4; Andrew DePue (N) d. Cody Udell 5-2
Doubles
Brandon Marazita/Kevin Muntz (Br.) d. Travis Lemanski/Gunnar Pierce 6-2; Brandon Marazita/Kevin Muntz (Br.) d. Patrick Schrader/Sam McDaniel 7-5