By By STEVE MORRISON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Portland Raiders and Jackson Lumen Christi were overpowering first and second place finishers at the Buck Invitational Tennis Tourney hosted by Buchanan and held at three sites: Plym Park, Niles High School, and Edwardsburg High School on a cool, crisp Saturday morning.
With leaves turning colors and Apple Festival festivities in full swing it was fun-filled event that featured top notch tennis play.
Portland's top two seeded singles players, C.J. Griffin and Yyler Blake were near perfect, winning their final contests by 6-0, 6-0 whitewashings. Third seed Zach Bauer won his first set 6-3 and squeaked through for a 7-6 tie-breaking victory in set two to place the Raiders first, second, and third in singles finals.
Buchanan's Harper Sulier and Grayson Oakes narrowly succumbed to Portland's Andrew Wierferich and John Beckett in first doubles 4-6,4-6. Bucks second doubles Max Gorton and Holly Lucas likewise fell just short at 4-6, 4-6, to Lumen Christi's second seed doubles partners Jake VanderWold and Anthony Rowe. The Bucks' Zack Devereaux and Kevin Watson also placed second in the tournament in fourth doubles.
Host and tournament director, Steve Bender, Buchanan boys' tennis coach, commented," I'm very pleased with Buchanan's doubles teams three second place finishes and one third against top notch competition entering conference. Our team has improved a lot the last two weeks. I am excited for the next two weeks. We are peaking at the perfect time."
"For us, I was pleased with our play in most of the matches," Brandywine tennis coach Dave Sidenbender said.
"Number four singles Shane Bankston, No. 3 doubles Chris Brady and Dan Reidenbach, and No. 4 doubles Tyler Weeks and Cody Udell all played great … and seemed to take some positive steps going into the conference tourney on Thursday.
I was most pleased with number one singles Travis Bakeman winning against Buchanan. He got hurt in a soccer match this week, but gutted out a great match and played well today.
Number one doubles Trey Brenner and Dan Whitney also played some inspired tennis … I feel like we may make some noise this week."
Buck Classic
Team Scores
Portland 76; Jackson Lumen Chrisi 51; Paw Paw 35; Bridgman 34; Buchanan 32; Edwardsburg 23; Hillsdale 13; Brandywine 9
Championship Flights
Singles
1. C.J. Griifin (Portland) d. Eric Clark (Bridgman) 6-0, 6-0; 2. Tyler Blake (Portland) d. Sam Abbott (Paw Paw) 6-0, 6-0; 3. Zach Bauer (Portland) d. Paul Jarzynka (Lumen Christi) 6-3, 7-6(2); 4. Logan Hollow (Lumen Christi) d. Michael Cole (Portland) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. Andrew Wierferich/John Beckett (Portland) d. Harper Sulier/Grayson Oake (Buch) 6-4, 6-4; 2. Jake VanderWold/Anthony Rowe (Lumen Christi) d. Max Gorton/Holly Lucas (Buchanan) 6-4, 6-4; 3. Bryce Carlton/Cannon Strzalka (Portland) d.Brian Kelley/Alan Goldfarb (Lumen Christi) 6-2, 6-2; 4. Stephen Doerr/Tony Clark (Lumen Christi) d. Zack Devereaux/Kevin Watson (Buchanan) 6-2, 6-3