Cardinal boys send three to state tennis in Yakima

By PAUL DELANEY

Staff Reporter

The Medical Lake boys’ tennis team will send three players to the state 1A tournament this weekend at the Yakima Tennis Center.

Last weekend’s regionals at Mead High School featured competition between 1A, 1B and 2B schools where the Cardinals finished in third place overall behind Deer Park and St. George’s.

Leading the way as they have all season was the doubles team of Isiah Farmen and Alex Neder. The top seeded duo from the Northeast A League reached the finals against St. George’s.

The pair took wins of 6-3, 6-2 over Davenport and 7-6, (7-5), 6-2 versus one St. George’s’ team before falling to a second Dragons’ team 3-6, 7-5, 4-6.

“Alex and Isi did a fantastic job in this tournament,” co-head coach Jake Wesselman said. “They ended up taking second place against a solid team and their last match was exactly what you wanted to see in a championship match.”

Noah Ray won three of his four matches, including his final two to finish third and earn his singles berth at this weekend’s championships.

“I’m proud of Noah for making it to state, but not at all surprised,” co-head coach Dawn Eliassen said. “He just missed the opportunity last year, and this has been his goal all season.”

Ray breezed through his opening round of play 6-0, 6-0, lost to a Lind-Ritzville-Sprague player 1-6, 7-6 (10-8), 3-6 and then earned wins 6-1, 6-2 over his St. George’s opponent and his berth at state with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Lakeside.

“Noah has worked hard all season and it has paid off,” assistant coach Todd Harr said. “From the beginning we knew he could make it and he exceeded expectations.”

Medical Lake’s final entrant in regional play was its No. 2 doubles team of Trevor Nilles and Colten Miller who split their four matches. The NEA’s No. 4 seed in doubles play lost their first in straight sets 0-6, 4-6 to St. George’s but stayed in contention with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Reardan. They dropped identical games, 2-6, 2-6 to a second St. George’s team and finished with 6-4, 6-4 wins against Lakeside.

“This was going to be a tough draw for Trevor and Colten since they came in as the No. 4 seed,” Eliassen said. “They played the eventual champions in the first round which meant that the pressure was on them for every match after that since they were all loser out.”

“Advancing three players onto state is an incredible feeling,” Wesselman said. “I am proud of how every one of our players performed on the court so far.”

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].