Panther Boys come up short

Powell High School’s girls tennis team took two wins in three dual competitions last week, while the boys came close to breaking through for a victory.

The Lady Panthers won three of five matches against both Natrona County and Sheridan on Thursday and Friday before getting trumped by Gillette on Saturday.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve beaten Natrona or Sheridan in a match,” said a pleased PHS head coach Ray Bieber. Last week’s action put the girls’ conference record at 3-1 on the year. It gives the Lady Panthers a chance to have one of their best regular season finishes in some time.

“They’ve got to finish strong with three good matches here,” Bieber said of this week’s upcoming duals that will cap the regular season.

PHS No. 2 doubles players Josie Brinkerhoff and Rachel Anderson were a big part of the Lady Panthers’ success last week, winning two of their matches.

The boys, meanwhile, took two of five matches from Natrona County to come up short, then couldn’t win a match against Sheridan and Gillette.

“We’re just young,” said Bieber. He noted that none of his players are seniors and none played in the same varsity spots last year.

“It’s not like we’re losing 6-0, 6-0,” the coach added. “We’re in matches.”

Bieber said there were plenty of games that went to deuce last week before going the other team’s way. It’s something his squad needs to work on.

Bright spots included No. 1 singles player Cody Akin having “good matches every day” — including nearly winning a set against Gillette, Bieber said.

The coach also praised the play of No. 2 doubles players Sterling Cozzens and Kristian Stenlund. They beat their Natrona County counterparts in straight sets, dropped a three-set match to Sheridan, then challenged Gillette in the first set of that match, Bieber said.

The PHS players have a full slate of tennis this week as they try to make up three rain-outs from earlier in the season.

Powell was set to host Kelly Walsh at 2 p.m. Monday, then welcome Cody at 3 p.m. today (Tuesday).

On Thursday, PHS is slated to stop in Riverton on the way to the regional tennis tournament and play Jackson at 10:30 a.m. If the weather is too lousy, the team may play Jackson indoors in Casper. The north region’s tournament is being held at Kelly Walsh High School on Friday and Saturday.

Versus Natrona County

in Powell on Thursday

Girls

No. 1 singles player Cydney Barrus defeated Crystal Gallup 6-4, 6-3

No. 2 singles player Anna Gransoe defeated Tristyn Phillips 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

No. 1 doubles players Laura Bright and Haley Wichman lost 6-1, 6-3

No. 2 doubles players Josie Brinkerhoff and Rachel Anderson won 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

No. 3 doubles players Madisen McDonald and Emma Hanlin lost 6-2, 6-1

Boys

No. 1 singles player Cody Akin lost to Spencer Dexter 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

No. 2 singles player Matt Brown lost to Andreas DeGraeve 6-2, 6-2

No. 1 doubles players Jeffrey Pool and Will Meyer lost 6-1, 6-3

No. 2 doubles players Sterling Cozzens and Kristian Stenlund won 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 doubles players Carson Asher and Blaze Flores won 7-6(1), 6-2

At Sheridan on Friday

Girls

Barrus lost to Julia Fenn 6-0, 6-0.

Brooke Lensegrav (filling in for Gransoe, who was away) lost to Katelynn Brooks 6-0, 6-1

Bright and Wichman won 6-3, 6-3

Brinkerhoff and Anderson won 2-6, 6-0, 6-3

McDonald and Aimee Kawano won 6-4, 6-2

Boys

Akin lost to Reed Rittersbusch 6-1, 6-4

Brown lost to Adam Berry 6-1, 6-3

Pool and Meyer lost 6-0, 6-2

Cozzens and Stenlund lost 3-6, 6-0, 6-4

Asher and Flores lost 6-2, 6-4

At Gillette on Saturday

Girls

Barrus lost to Madisen Hinshaw 6-2, 6-1

Lensegrav lost to Lauren Miller 6-2, 6-0

Bright and Wichman lost 6-0, 6-2

Brinkerhoff and Anderson lost 6-4, 6-2

McDonald and Aimee Kawano lost 6-2, 6-2

Boys

Akin lost to Sam Coulter 6-2, 7-5

Brown lost to Gabe Beldon 6-3, 6-0.

Pool and Meyer lost 6-1, 6-0

Cozzens and Stenlund lost 6-3, 6-0

Asher and Flores lost 6-2, 6-1