There wasn’t much mystery at the 3A Greater St. Helens League boys tennis tournament. Everyone knows everyone.
Being familiar with their opponents helped three players from Columbia River capture titles on Saturday at Club Green Meadows.
Junior Nick Neathamer won the singles title over teammate Nathan Behrens 6-3, 6-4.
“We play every day. I know what to expect,” Neathamer said. “I was moving well, and I was also moving him.”
Owen Carlson and Nathan Crary won the doubles title over Prairie’s Zach Tompkins and James Phillips 7-6 (9), 6-1.
Carlson said it doesn’t matter how well he knows an opponent, he always expects their “A” game at tournaments.
“And you need to bring yours,” he said.
Crary said it is easier for both teams as everyone knows how each other hits.
Both Carlson and Crary said after the tight first set won the long tiebreaker, they settled in and finished the match.
The top three placers from district advance to the 3A bi-district tournament next weekend in Tacoma where the top five placers there earn berths to state in May.
Carlson and Crary were the only 3A boys from the GSHL to reach state last year, where they went 1-2.
“We just need to be more consistent,” Crary said. “Everyone we play from here on out is our level or better. I think we can get it done.”
Columbia River added the tournament team title to its league title, outscoring Prairie 44-34.
2A district tennis
Hudson’s Bay will be sending three players to state in May.
Jose Ignacio Perez placed third in singles witha 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 win over Aberdeen’s Warren Pratt.
The Eagles’ doubles team of Aleks Mertvyy and Bailey Ridgway also placed third. They came from behind and then won a marathon third-set tiebreaker for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11) victory over Ben Kallus and Noah Corwin of Centralia.
The 2A state tournament is May 27-28 at the Nordstrom Tennis Center at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Stars of the day
• Woodland girls soccer, defeated Mark Morris 2-1 for its first win over the Monarchs and locked in a spot to the 2A district playoffs for the first time.
• Union girls swimming, won the Southwest Washington Invitational with a strong finish. The Thunder place three teams in the top six of the 400 free relay to seal the win.
• Colleen Woods, Heritage swimming, won the 200 freestyle (2:05.39) and 50 free (26.22) at the Southwest Washington Invitational.
• Hanna Eha, Skyview swimming, won the 200 individual medley (2:20.21) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.30) at the Southwest Washington Invitational.
• Emily Hain and Sruthi Ravi, Mountain View swimming. Hain won the 100 butterfly (1:05.76), Ravi won the 100 backstroke (1:01.63), and both were on the winning 200 free relay team with Karen Gong and Nicole Gascon at the Southwest Washington Invitational.
