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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Saturday's Class 3A-1A state championship match was a challenge from start to finish for Rossville senior tennis star Alex Sherer.
Of course, challenge is also the best word to sum up Sherer's high school career as a whole.
But after waiting four years just to get a chance to play in a state tournament, Sherer was more than willing to put in a little extra court time, surviving a marathon three-set, two-tiebreaker championship match to take a 6-7 (10-8 tiebreaker), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4 tiebreaker) victory over Wichita Collegiate junior Nick Grabon at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Club.
"This was the goal, this was the hope and we got it done,'' Sherer said. "It wasn't easy, but we got there.''
Rossville senior Alex Sherer displays his championship bracket after claiming the Class 3A-1A state singles championship Saturday in Wichita. [Twitter]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
With some cooperation from Mother Nature, Shawnee County high school teams in baseball, softball and soccer will get the opportunity to vie for state tournament berths this week.
Here's a look at regional pairings in those sports:
SHAWNEE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL PAIRINGS
BASEBALL
CLASS 6A
West Regional 3
At Manhattan
Games Tuesday — Topeka High (6: 14-6) vs. Junction City (11: 9-11), 2 p.m.; Manhattan (3: 16-4) vs. Hutchinson (14: 6-14), 4 p.m.; Championship, 6 p.m.
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Hayden's Gus Glotzbach (left) and Michael Sandstrom posted a second-place Class 4A state doubles finish Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Michael Sandstrom and Gus Glotzbach's bid for the Class 4A doubles championship came up short Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, but there was plenty for the Hayden underclass duo to feel good about.
After surviving a marathon three-set semifinal match, Sandstrom, a junior, and sophomore Glotzbach gave McPherson seniors Brennan Gipson and Conner Glazner their toughest match of the state tournament in a 6-2, 6-3 loss in the championship match.
And despite the loss, Sandstrom and Glotzbach were decidedly upbeat after the match.
"I'm excited for next year,'' Sandstrom said. "I'm excited where we finished off. It's tough not getting that last win, but it's definitely a good finish for the year.''
Glotzbach agreed.
"Runner-up to the championship definitely exceeds our expectations,'' he said.
Hayden junior Michael Sandstrom returns a shot during Saturday's Class 4A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden sophomore Gus Glotzbach teamed with Michael Sandstrom to finish second in Class 4A doubles Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
It took a gutsy semifinal performance for Hayden just to reach the championship match, with Sandstrom and Glotzbach bouncing back from a 7-5 first-set loss to Circle seniors Noah Allison and Drew Middleton to advance with 6-4 and 6-3 victories the next two sets.
"That was a huge boost in confidence,'' Sandstrom said.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Rossville senior Alex Sherer is making the most of his first and only shot at a state tennis championship, advancing to Saturday Class 3A-1A state semifinals with a pair of straight-set victories Friday at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex.
Rossville senior Alex Sherer advanced to Saturday's Class 3A-1A singles semifinals at Wichita with a pair of straight-set victories Friday. [File photo/TSN]
Sherer, who played for Hayden as a co-op player during the regular season, opened his state bid with a 6-0, 6-1 win before knocking off previously-unbeaten Peyton Ryan of Central Plains in the quarterfinals, 6-0, 6-4.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There's still work to be done, but Hayden's boys tennis team has already guaranteed itself of a successful weekend in the Class 4A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center.
Junior Michael Sandstrom and sophomore Gus Glotzbach advanced to Saturday's doubles semifinals with two straight wins while senior Johnny Holloway and junior Patrick Gorman assured themselves of state medals with a 2-1 record Friday.
Hayden doubles partners Gus Glotzbach (front) and Michael Sandstrom slap hands after closing out Friday's quarterfinal doubles victory in the Class 4A state tennis tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
