By RYAN WALKER
Wayne’s boys’ tennis team edged out Bluffton at home with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday.
The loss drops the Tigers’ record to 1-5, a year after a winning record and ACAC Conference title.
After graduating five of the seven varsity starters, the lineup was going to be quite the puzzle to string together on top of illness this year for head coach Robert Vanderkolk.
“It’s a tough season because we just finished our sixth match, and our varsity team hasn’t been healthy,” Vanderkolk said after the match. “We’ve passed illness around. I’ve used a different lineup every match. We knew coming into the season there was going to be a lot of lineup shuffling. We graduated six letter winners, and we bring only two back in Anthony (Hartman) and Nolan (Lambert).”
With how the season has gone thus far, Vanderkolk switched the lineup around against the Generals. He swapped Dane Schlagenhauf from doubles in the No. 2 singles slot with Nolan Lambert, while Jacob Ribich went from No. 2 doubles to No. 3 singles with Kade Abbett.
In Wednesday’s match, Lambert and Ben Maggard won at No. 1 doubles while Abbett and Coy Lantz won at No. 2 doubles, but all three singles matches lost. Last season, the team won in a 5-0 sweep over Wayne.
Trying to piece together a starting seven with limited experience on varsity and no seniors on the team has been troubling to piece together. There are potentially nine players on the roster that can play at the varsity level. Most of them are interchangeable in different positions, but they and Vanderkolk have yet to find a permanent home.
The only lock on the team is Anthony Hartman at the No. 1 singles spot, a junior who saw time on varsity last year.
Not only will the lineup take time to sort itself out, but weather complications have caused fits for the Tigers. Matches have been postponed due to rain and heat, and two matches were shortened due to the weather. Those factors have stalled consistent progress for the young group.
“A testament for the guys that play singles and doubles, but we’ve got to figure out what’s going to be the best lineup to be the most successful, and the weather hasn’t cooperated. It’s either been wet or too hot,” Vanderkolk said.
As the year continues, the team will have a more clear picture of the new look for the Bluffton boys’ tennis program. The girls’ tennis program has a similar situation with head coach Spencer Schwartz, as he and Vanderkolk have their entire teams returning next season.
This year perhaps is a rebuild, but it is still just as important for the future of the program.
“As long as everybody decides to play tennis next year, I’ve got everybody coming back, plus a few eighth graders that could help us out. There’s talent coming,” Vanderkolk said.
Varsity results
• Sebastian Apodeca (W) defeated Anthony Hartman 6-4, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
• Jackson Zwick (W) defeated Dane Schlagenhauf 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.
• Josh Buss (W) defeated Jacob Ribich 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.
• Nolan Lambert and Ben Maggard (B) defeated Duncan Keirns and Eric Echeverria 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles.
• Kade Abbett and Coy Lantz (B) defeated Gibson Mart and Logan Reyaldo 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles.
Bluffton won the junior varsity match with one game.
• Evan Klopfenstein and Lincoln Rodgers (B) defeated Preston Hamblin and Ben Pozuelos 8-1.
Bluffton travels to Winchester at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.
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