At home for the first time and starting conference play the Powell High School tennis teams took on the Gillette schools, as the Panther boys’ team split their matches defeating Campbell County 3-2 before losing to Thunder Basin 4-1, while the girls’ team lost both matchups 4-1 against Campbell County and 3-2 to Thunder Basin.

BOYS

POWELL 3, CAMPBELL COUNTY 2

Starting out at No. 1 singles, Memphis Solberg fell in straight sets to Leland Jenkins 6-2, 6-4.

Calvin Opps got off to what proved to be a great day for him at No. 2 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Ty Ruff.

The Panthers fell at No. 1 doubles, as Kazdyn Lee and Sawyer Wormald fell to Eli Melinkovich and Emmit Kindsvogel 7-5, 6-1.

“They both have good reach and good movement, and pretty darn steady serves,” coach Joe Asay said. “As coaches, we’re trying to figure out how to kind of light a fire under them. They’re otherwise two pretty chill kids, we need to figure out how to get them fired up, play with a little more energy, just feel more impactful with their size.”

Gavin Soloai and David Stensing picked up the victory at No. 2 doubles over Jacob Malibran and Tayten Walker 6-1, 6-1.

Tucker Phillips and Anton Bostrom secured the win for the Panthers at No. 3 doubles, as they lost the first set 6-4, before recovering and winning the second set 6-3 and ultimately winning the match with a 6-0 third set.

“They had kind of a slow start, and then kind of got it all figured out. Just played good, smart classic doubles tennis,” Asay said.

THUNDER BASIN 4, POWELL 1

In a more difficult matchup in the afternoon the Panthers took on the Bolts, as Solberg fell to Jackson Moore in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.

Opps completed his unbeaten day as he defeated Andrew Howell 6-4, 6-2.

“Things are going pretty well for Calvin,” Asay said. “He’s always had a pretty solid serve. That’s just continued to improve as he’s gotten taller and bigger … He plays smart tennis, working through and building points, he had a good day. Nice to get the wins, but also just really good to see him playing good, smart tennis.”

Lee and Wormald fell again at No. 1 doubles, as they lost to Garrett Moore and Carter Rodgers 6-0, 6-1.

Soloai and Stensing also fell at No. 2 doubles for a second time, losing to Asher Bayles and Jayden Nichols 6-4, 6-3.

In another long three set match, Phillips and Bostrom won the first set against Eli Howell and Ben Lass 7-5, before losing close second and third sets 6-4 and 7-5.

GIRLS

CAMPBELL COUNTY 4, POWELL 1

Naomi Whipple continued her undefeated start to the season, as she cruised at No. 1 singles against Paedyn Coulter with a 6-2, 6-0 win.

“She’s definitely leading the charge,” Asay said. “I’ve seen over the years that it can be a challenge for kids when they have that greater expectation, it can kind of overwhelm them. But she’s worked so hard at it, now it’s just getting out there and playing a match. Knowing that she’s got a ton of different shots and just getting better about how to kind of manage her body and time on the courts. So she’s just bringing a lot of maturity to it.”

Aubrey Kelley dropped a close first set to Kylie Groves 7-5 before losing the second set 6-1.

In a challenging matchup at No. 1 doubles, Noelle Leighton and Ashlee Jacobsen fell to Kendall Mills and Adalyn Arndt in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

A close matchup at No. 2 doubles saw Emma and Aubrey Bear win the first set 6-3 against Hadley Urich and Kamryn Holdeman, before dropping the second set 7-6 with a 7-5 tiebreaker. The third set followed in the exact same fashion, as the duo fell 7-6, the tiebreaker for the third set was not recorded.

“Two senior girls that have had very minimal varsity play, but they have been playing enough their entire high school career, and just enough smarts and patience, they almost got a win out of it,” Asay said. “The loss is a bummer, but great for them to get out and play and compete really well.”

Addy and Brynn Kelley switched to the No. 3 doubles slot this week, as they fell to Ella Walker and Brisban Ivory 6-2, 6-4.

THUNDER BASIN 3, POWELL 2

Whipple completed her undefeated day, but it came with her first challenge of the season as Liv Katschke took the first set 6-4, before Whipple responded with a 6-4 win of her own and finished the match with a 6-3 third set to take the win.

Aubrey earned a win at No. 2 singles, winning the first set 6-3, but fell in the second set 7-6 with a 7-5 tiebreaking score. She finished with the win over Tearyn Anderson, recording a 6-4 third set victory.

“Aubrey is just a backboard. She’s really not gonna dictate the points. Those girls are just both trying to be patient, a lot of long rallies,” Asay said. “Just some pretty darn good solid tennis there.”

At No. 1 doubles, Jacobsen and Leighton fell to Emily Reede and Julia Stevens in straight sets 6-1, 6-1.

The Bear cousins at No. 2 doubles fell to Ella Reede and Brooklyn Rodgers in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.

Addy was flanked by Karen Richmond at No. 3 doubles for the second matchup, as that duo fell to Willow Crump and Brynlee Griffis 6-1, 6-0.

HOMESTAND CONTINUES

The Panthers remain at home this week, welcoming in another pair of difficult opponents in Sheridan at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Jackson at 2 p.m.

“We hope that we can be competitive this next weekend against the Sheridan and Jackson kids. They always come ready to play,” Asay said. “Excited to have kind of a normal week of practice from the standpoint of the kids getting into a routine of classes and some regular times … Looking forward to a full week of practice.”