Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs High School boys tennis team had just enough Wednesday night in a showdown against Air Academy, winning 4-3. Now the Sailors hope to transition that win into a good weekend as they prepare to open play today in the Western Slope Invitational in Grand Junction, a tournament that could prove very important for the squad.

“It will tell us a lot,” coach John Aragon said about the two-day tournament. “We’ve been playing some of the toughest teams in the state, and we’ve been competitive with everyone. Those kind of matches and this tournament give us a little more experience and confidence.”

The Sailors needed all that savvy Wednesday.

The team picked up two-set sweeps from Jamey Swiggart at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, Colin Green at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 7-5, and No. 1 doubles, where Gabri Erspamer and Erik Sortland won, 6-1, 6-2.

“It was good to see them play like that, the way they were serving and volleying,” Aragon said about Erspamer and Sortland. “We need them to play that way in the coming tournament.”

Quinn Cain and Stefan Sortland at No. 3 doubles pushed the team over the top by eking out a second-set tiebreaker, 7-4, to win, 6-3, 7-6(4).

The No. 2 doubles team of Kyle Rogers and Corbin Diehl lost despite taking the first set, losing 4-6, 7-6, 6-1. Ben Wharton and Nick Matthews fell, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 4 doubles, and No. 2 singles player Luke Farny lost, 6-2, 6-4.

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253 or email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com