Singles sweep pushes Raiders past Pacelli

MEDFORD BOYS TENNIS

The Medford Raiders rode a sweep of the singles matches to a 5-2 tennis win at Stevens Point Pacelli Thursday afternoon.

While it was a cool day for late April, the Raiders were happy to finally get a dual meet in after four attempts to play in the previous eight days were wiped out by wintry or wet conditions. The win put them at 2-0 in the GNC and 2-2 overall heading into what should be a busy May. In singles play, junior Brayden Balciar had no trouble in flight one, sweeping Pacelli’s Ben Westrich 6-0, 6-0 to improve to 3-0 on the year. Senior Saskatoon Damm also went to 3-0 at number-two singles. He rolled past Bennett Eckendorf 6-0, 6-2. Junior Conner Klingbeil cruised past Evan Pekorek 6-1, 6-0 in flight three and freshman Parker Hill was credited with a forfeit win at number-four.

Medford’s fifth win came from the number-three doubles team of Jude Stark and Oliver Swiantek, who took care of Dominic Kroening and Josh Opaneye 6-1, 6-2. The Raiders’ number-two duo of sophomores Mason Reimann and Cale Schulz came close, falling in three sets to Eli Robinson and Hunter Wrezinski. The Raiders took the first set 6-4, but Pacelli’s team claimed the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to get the win.

In flight one, Keagen Austrang and Marcus Lansing won a competitive 6-4, 6-4 match with Medford’s Brett Lundy and Dante Axon.

Home dual meets last week with Pacelli, Rhinelander and Lakeland were postponed. The Pacelli meet is now set for May 8, while the Lakeland meet will now be played this coming Monday, May 1. The Rhinelander meet was attempted again this Monday, but late afternoon snow showers derailed that plan. A new date for that dual against the GNC’s preseason favorite has not been announced.

Medford is scheduled to host Ashland Friday in non-conference play at 5 p.m. for what will now be the home opener. The Raiders go to Lakeland Tuesday, host Antigo on May 4 and go to the Altoona Quad on May 5.