By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After coming up a single point short to Manhattan in the 2023 Centennial League boys tennis tournament, Brad Johnston's Washburn Rural team got the job done Monday at Junction City, taking the league crown by a two-point margin over the Indians.
Led by league doubles champions Lawsen Lobatos, a senior, and sophomore Dylan Willingham, the Junior Blues topped Manhattan 42-40 to win the title.
Washburn Rural also got second and third-place finishes in singles from Kaleb Nelson and Ben Tryhus and a fourth-place doubles showing from Brayden Kohls and Cale Duetscher.
Monday's league title opened a busy week for Washburn Rural.
The city championships, postponed from last Thursday, is on tap at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Kossover Tennis Center, followed by Class 6A regional competition on Friday at Junction City.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE TENNIS
At Junction City
Team scores
Washburn Rural 42, Manhattan 40, Hayden 23, Topeka High 21, Junction City 20, Emporia 10.
Individual results
Singles
Championship -- Advith Natarajan, Manhattan, def. Kaleb Nelson, Washburn Rural, 6-0, 6-0.
Third -- Ben Tryhus, Washburn Rural, def. Leo Rosowsky, Manhattan, 6-2, 4-6, 10-4.
Fifth -- Evan George, Hayden, def. Bo-Archy Sigrah, Junction City, 6-4, 3-4, 12-10.
Doubles
Championship -- Lobatos/Willingham, Washburn Rural, def. Hwang/Spiegel, Manhattan, 6-2, 6-0.
Third -- Luke/Blaser, Hayden, def. Duetscher/Kohls, Washburn Rural, 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 11-9.
Fifth -- Gish/Morgan, Manhattan, def. Hodges/Raymond, Topeka High, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).