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.
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.
Sherer, now 34-2, is scheduled to take on Jake Lucas of Smoky Valley (30-5) in the semifinals.
Wichita Collegiate junior Nick Grabon (17-4) is slated to take on Kansas City Christian freshman Caleb Bartels (25-4) in the other semifinal.
CLASS 5A
Topeka West sophomores Ian Cusick and Miles Cusick have assured themselves of state doubles medals after going 1-2 Friday at Maize South and will have a shot to finish as high as ninth place on Saturday.
The Cusicks were the lone city entries to advance to 5A place matches.
CLASS 6A
Washburn Rural junior singles player Kyler Knudtson and the Junior Blue doubles team of sophomore Mason Casebeer and junior Nick Luetje both went 2-1 on the day Friday at Harmon Park to advance to Saturday's Class 6A state place matches.
Knudtson, now 18-8, will take on Olathe Northwest's Joseph Burnham in Saturday's opening singles match while Casebeer and Luetje (24-11) will face Blue Valley North junior Matt Crossland and sophomore Zach Amsterdam.