Senior singles players set standard for Watkins Memorial, Newark tennis
NEWARK — Having a 1-0 head start each match has boosted the Watkins Memorial boys tennis team during an impressive spring.
Senior Liam Grennan set the pace again Tuesday. His 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles led unbeaten Watkins (15-0) to a 5-0 sweep at Newark (6-4). Grennan could break his single-season record for wins, a mark he first set as a sophomore and reset as a junior.
"I wasn't expecting for us to go undefeated so far when the season was getting started. It's really cool. I just like showing everyone how we run practice," said Grennan, who earned his 21st victory Tuesday. He won 27 as a sophomore primarily at No. 2 singles and 28 as a junior in his first season at No. 1.
A returning district qualifier, Grennan is the No. 1 seed in the sectional tournament May 8 at Pickerington Central.
"There is always pressure when you are No. 1 seed because you feel like you have to live up to that," Grennan added. "I have a pretty good record. I think I can do that."
Grennan's help against Newark came in the form of singles victories from sophomore Graham Smith, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 2 and Wyatt Meade, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3. Sophomore Nathan Walter and junior Michael Hare, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 1 and junior Parker Carte and senior Landon Penrose, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 2, added doubles victories.
The Warriors finished 14-2 two seasons ago with a senior-heavy lineup. They reloaded on the fly.
"I knew coming off my sophomore year when we had all of those seniors we might not have the best year after that, but the way we have turned it around and had such a good season this year is real cool to see," Grennan said.
The match against Watkins was a setback for host Newark, but the Wildcats still are bidding for another winning season despite having just two seniors — Will Woughter at No. 1 singles and Trever Anderson at No. 1 doubles.
Woughter rallied for a three-set victory in a 4-1 win against Reynoldsburg on Friday. That gave the Wildcats a 3-2 mark in Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division, and a narrow loss to Lancaster was all that stood between the Wildcats and a runner-up finish.
"Being a senior this year with my best friend Trever, we have filled in the leadership role, and I feel like most of the team looks up to us. The team is going smooth right now," said Woughter, playing his third season at No. 1 singles. "Evan Devries or Layton Shaner definitely put in the most effort at practice and are both going to be seniors next year. They are going to take that leadership role. It's a toss-up between either one of them. It depends on the day they are having because they can beat each other anytime."
Watkins' Smith will be back with Walter at doubles as the No. 4 seed for the sectional tournament after they finished 2-1 as freshmen, falling in a competitive match with district qualification on the line. They are products of a healthy middle school program built up by longtime coach Shawn Walter.
"I like both (singles and doubles)," Smith said. "I have played with Nathan for a long time, so both of them are fun. Usually, you are more aggressive in doubles and you serve from a different spot, but otherwise it's mostly the same."
Watkins has the Westerville trio ahead with a trip to Westerville North on Thursday and Westerville Central on Monday. The Warriors host Westerville South on May 7 and still are attempting to reschedule a match with Granville after an earlier postponement.
Newark hosts Canal Winchester on Wednesday and Bloom-Carroll on Thursday. The Wildcats also host Zanesville on Monday in a rematch of battle won by the Blue Devils 3-2 earlier this season.
"Before the season, we try to set the goals for ourselves — both personal and team," Woughter said. "The team goal is winning record, and we will get some sort of reward at the end. This year, I think we get a Kings Island trip. Last year, it was Cedar Point, so (coach Rob Hays) will give us a reward for a winning record and we try our best to strive for that."
740-973-4541
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Singles players set standard for Watkins Memorial, Newark tennis
