By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural's boys tennis team hasn't quite achieved perfection over its first three tennis meets of the 2024 season.
But Brad Johnston's Junior Blues have been darn close, going undefeated as a team while dropping just one match.
Rural continued its hot start in Wednesday's Topeka West quadrangular at Kossover Tennis Center, rolling to 4-0 victories over Seaman, Topeka West and Lawrence.
"I love the talent and the depth that we have, having a couple of seniors but being able to fill out the lineup with sophomores and I still have other guys,'' Johnston said. "They're playing hard and they're buying into the team mentality that we have.''
Washburn Rural senior Dylan Dodge went a perfect 3-0 in No. 1 singles in Wednesday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Keegan Knudtson went 3-0 in No. 2 singles in Wednesday's Topeka West quadrangular, helping Washburn Rural post three 4-0 dual victories. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural senior Dylan Dodge posted 8-2, 8-0 and 8-1 wins in No. 1 singles while sophomore Keegan Knudtson recorded two 8-0 decisions and an 8-1 victory in No. 2 singles.
Washburn Rural sophomore Dylan Willingham (left) and senior Lawsen Lobatos celebrate a point during Wednesday's Topeka West quadrangular at Kossover Tennis Center, with the Rural duo going 3-0 on the day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's No. 2 doubles team of Brayden Kohls (left) and Cale Duetscher went undefeated in Wednesday's Topeka West quadrangular, helping the Junior Blues post three 4-0 victories. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's No. 1 doubles team of senior Lawsen Lobatos and sophomore Dylan Willingham didn't drop a game on the day, winning three straight 8-0 decisions while the Junior Blues' No. 2 doubles team of sophomores Cale Duetscher and Brayden Kohls posted 8-2, 8-4 and 8-5 victories.
"I feel like this season and the seasons going forward that we're going in the right direction and team first is our mentality,'' Johnston said.
Seaman went 1-2 on the day, posting a 4-0 win over a Topeka West in its final match of the day.
Seaman's Gavin Dutton posted an 8-0 win over West in No. 1 singles while Ethan Winters took an 8-1 decision in No. 2 singles.
The Vikings' No. 1 doubles team of Noah Andrews and Austin Bramlett posted an 8-6 win over the Chargers while the No. 2 team of Dayton Schneider and Donavon Schneider also took an 8-6 win.
Topeka West, the defending Class 6A, used a split squad in Wednesday's quad, with multiple Charger state medalists sitting out the competition as West went 0-3 on the day.
West got an 8-4 win from Ayden Gore and Kolby Johnson over Lawrence in No. 2 doubles.
TOPEKA WEST QUADRANGULAR
At Kossover Tennis Center
WASHBURN RURAL 4, SEAMAN 0
No. 1 singles -- Dylan Dodge, WR, def. Gavin Dutton, Sea, 8-2. No. 2 singles -- Keegan Knudtson, WR, def. Ethan Winters, Sea, 8-0. No. 1 doubles -- Lawsen Lobatos/Dylan Willingham, WR, def. Noah Andrews/Austin Bramlett, Sea, 8-0. No. 2 doubles -- Cale Duetscher/Brayden Kohls, WR, def. Dayton Schneider/Donavon Schneider, Sea, 8-5.
LAWRENCE 3, TOPEKA WEST 1
No. 1 singles -- Asher Sikes, Law, def. Peyton Collette, TW, 8-2. No. 2 singles -- Xavier Klish, Law, def. Will Hitch, TW, 8-2. No. 1 doubles -- Jun Brewer/Jack Bauch, Law, def. Butch Graham/Julian Ramcharan, TW, 8-0. No. 2 doubles -- Ayden Gore/Kolby Johnson, TW, def. Josh Labin/Logan Daniels, Law, 8-4.
WASHBURN RURAL 4, TOPEKA WEST 0
No. 1 singles -- Dylan Dodge, WR, def. Peyton Collette, TW, 8-0. No. 2 singles -- Keegan Knudtson, WR, def. Will Hitch, TW, 8-0. No. 1 doubles -- Lawsen Lobatos/Dylan Willingham, WR, def. Butch Graham/Julian Ramcharan, TW, 8-0. No. 2 doubles -- Cale Duetscher/Brayden Kohls, WR, def. Ayden Gore/Kolby Johnson, TW, 8-4.
LAWRENCE 3, SEAMAN 1
No. 1 singles -- Asher Sikes, Law, def. Gavin Dutton, Sea, 8-1. No. 2 singles -- Ethan Winters, Sea, def. Xavier Klish, Law, 8-5. No. 1 doubles -- Jun Brewer/Jack Bauch, Law, def. Noah Andrews/Austin Bramlett, Sea, 8-3. No. 2 doubles -- Josh Labin/Logan Daniels, Law, def. Dayton Schneider/Donavon Schneider, Sea, 8-2.
WASHBURN RURAL 4, LAWRENCE 0
No. 1 singles -- Dylan Dodge, WR, def. Asher Sikes, Law, 8-1. No. 2 singles -- Keegan Knudtson, WR, def. Xavier Klish, Law, 8-1. No. 1 doubles -- Lawsen Lobatos/Dylan Willingham, WR, def. Jun Brewer/Jack Bauch, Law, 8-0. No. 2 doubles -- Cale Duetscher/Brayden Kohls, WR, def. Josh Labin/Logan Daniels, Law, 8-5.
SEAMAN 4, TOPEKA WEST 0
No. 1 singles -- Gavin Dutton, Sea, def. Peyton Collette, TW, 8-0. No. 2 singles -- Ethan Winters, Sea, def. Will Hitch, TW, 8-1. No. 1 doubles -- Noah Andrews/Austin Bramlett, Sea, def. Butch Graham/Julian Ramcharan, TW, 8-1. No. 2 doubles -- Dayton Schneider/Donavon Schneider, Sea, def. Ayden Gore/Kolby Johnson, TW, 8-6.
