By Robert Whitmire

Picking up two wins over at the SPASH Invite on April 22, the Panther boys tennis team sits at 3-5 early in the season with wins over Tomah, LaCrosse Logan and Watertown (5-2).

SPASH defeated Tomah and LaCrosse Logan by 5-4 scores and dropped their match with Marshfield 5-2 in Saturday’s triple dual action at the SPASH courts.

With an established singles lineup that features 2016 state qualifier Jon Peck in the No. 1 spot, the Panthers continue to mix and match doubles combinations to solidify those teams.

“The team is still trying to find out which doubles combinations will work best together,” said first year Coach Trevor Knight. “We always look for teams that get both players up to the net and are aggressive at the net, yet steady and consistent from the baseline” Knight added.

While starting his first year at SPASH as a Head Coach, Knight brings a number of years of coaching experience to the program having served as an Assistant Coach the past three years. Previously, Knight was the boys and girls head tennis coach at Wausau East. He played collegiate tennis at UW-Eau Claire.

SPASH will look to returning singles players Jon Peck, Patrick Hefferan, Garrek Wierzba, Angus Blakeman, and Carter Smigaj to step up and lead the team as the season progresses.

“Jon was a state qualifier last year as our number one singles player,” said Knight. “He has worked extremely hard this past off-season to improve on last year’s second round loss at the state tournament.”

Peck currently owns a 7-1 record on the season with his lone loss to Neel Raut of Oshkosh West.

“Ryan Guay, Aidan McManus, Eli Haas, Morgan O’Keefe, Ryan Martin, and Treyton Zinda will all play a lot of Varsity matches at some point this year,” said Knight. “Guay and O’Keefe will be looked at to provide some big wins in the singles lineup and Martin, Zinda , McManus, and Haas will be primarily doubles players this year.”

The Panthers will hit the road for a Wisconsin Valley Conference match at D.C. Everest Thursday, April 27 at 4:00 pm. The team will participate in the two-day De Pere Invite on April 28 and 29 with matches beginning at 10 AM Friday and 9 AM on Saturday.

SPASH returns home May 4 to face Wausau West at 4 PM and will host the SPASH Quad May 6 at 10 AM.