A flurry of home action wrapped up the regular season schedule for the Powell Panther tennis teams this past weekend as the boys’ team finished 3-0 over Cody and both Casper schools and the girls’ team battled but came up short, going 0-3 in those matchups.

BOYS KEEP ROLLING

The action kicked off Thursday night against the rival Cody Broncs in the reverse fixture after playing in Cody the prior week.

Cade Queen got things going strong at No. 1 singles, earning a victory (6-3, 7-5) over Nick Stewart for the second straight week.

Nathan Preator once again overcame a slow start at No. 2 singles to defeat Carter Thompson (1-6, 7-5, 7-5) to keep things rolling.

“Some people can figure out how to come out strong and some people need a little bit to get going,” coach Joe Asay said. “He was able to finish against a pretty strong opponent in Carter.”

The No. 1 doubles duo of Keegan Hicswa and Taeson Schultz won in straight sets (6-2, 6-0) over Christian Dudrick and Curtis Miller as Powell claimed a second victory over its rivals in as many tries.

Unfortunately this time it was not a sweep, as at No. 2 doubles Seeger Wormald and Ryan Barrus lost to Zach Schwab and Hudson Wallace (6-3, 3-6, 4-6).

No. 3 doubles helped Powell secure a 4-1 victory over its rivals, as Isaac Stensing and Tevon Schultz won a tight contest in straight sets over Wesley Law and Jamie Domingo (7-5, 7-6 (8-6)).

On Saturday the Panthers continued rolling, with Queen (6-0, 6-0) and Preator (6-1, 6-0) losing one game between them in singles against Kelly Walsh.

Hicswa and Taeson Schultz earned a 6-2 and 7-5 victory at No. 1 doubles before Barrus and Wormald lost to an undefeated duo at No. 2 doubles (3-6, 0-6).

“My No. 2 boys are smart and competitive and I could see they had a hard time taking away the net. That’s a pretty good, strong team there,” Asay said. “Even though that wasn’t the result they were looking for, they got a good match under their belt.”

Stensing and Tevon Schultz battled back from an opening set loss to help earn a 4-1 victory on the day for Powell (2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2).

The final matchup of the weekend had Powell battling Natrona County, wrapping up the regular season at home.

Queen earned another victory at No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-2) to finish with only one loss in conference play.

Preator battled back from an opening set loss to earn another victory (4-6, 6-2, 6-1) to also finish with only one loss in the north.

All three doubles teams earned strong victories, only losing four games total which came in the second set of No. 2 doubles.

GIRLS BATTLE LATE

The end of the season brought a strong fight from the Panther girls despite not winning any team matchups, with Powell battling against the Fillies and falling 4-1 after being swept the week before.

Lachelle Lee earned a victory at No. 1 singles after battling the prior week in three sets, defeating Noelle Graham the second time around to earn a close win (6-4, 1-6, 6-3).

Maya Landwehr battled at No. 2 singles, winning the first set before dropping the next two (6-2, 4-6, 1-6) against Karina Schoessler.

“The singles girls did a great job,” Asay said. “Some really good matches there.”

The Whipple sisters, Naomi and Lucy, battled in the first set of No. 1 doubles before coming up short against Alyssa Despain and Natalie Wenke (4-6, 1-6).

The same happened at No. 2 doubles with Meaghan McKeen and Sophie Czirr, losing by an identical scoreline as their No. 1 doubles teammates to Brenna Foote and Ellie Wassink.

No. 3 doubles saw a fresh pairing for the Panthers, with Anneliese Peterson and Kyra Morrow falling to Evie McGonagle and Hailey Dansey (3-6, 1-6).

Saturday brought in a different set of opponents, starting with the two-time defending state champion, Kelly Walsh.

“The girls left it all out there,” Asay said. “There is so much to be gained just from match play.”

Lee and Landwehr lost at No. 1 singles and No. 2 singles, only earning three games between the pair in the matchups.

The Whipples battled in the first set before falling in the second, losing in straight sets (4-6, 1-6).

McKeen and Czirr were the only ones to earn a set on the day, before falling in three to the visitors (7-5, 1-6, 1-6).

Peterson and Morrow continued to learn at the No. 3 doubles slot, earning a couple of games but fell short (0-6, 2-6).

“They are still trying to figure out how to play doubles tennis,” Asay said. “They played well and did the parts they could control with the exception of how to move and how to cover the court well with a partner.”

Turning their attention to NC, the girls’ team battled in each match but were unable to find a victory on the day.

Lee was the only one to lose in two sets, dropping the match at No. 1 singles (2-6, 3-6).

Landwehr forced a third set at No. 2 singles, but came up short (3-6, 6-4, 1-6).

The Whipples won the first set, before losing the second and ultimately the third set in a tiebreaker (6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (5-7)).

McKeen and Czirr won the first set, and battled throughout as neither team won a set by more than two sets but came up short (7-5, 5-7, 4-6).

Peterson and Morrow lost a tiebreaker in the first set, before winning the second set but ultimately came up just short of their first victory (6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 1-6).

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT IN GILLETTE

Powell heads back on the road heading into the postseason, starting a two-week tour of Gillette beginning with the North Regional Tournament starting on Friday.

The boys are expected to be competitive and in the mix at the tournament for a high placement individually and as a team, while the girls will battle it out for placement at the state tournament.

“The boys should be very competitive as a team and as we know looking through the results they should be individually as well,” Asay said. “I’m encouraged as we get into this tournament style format that they (the girls) can have some good results. Excited for these guys to get matches because that’s how they get better.”