Taking care of one final dual-match was all that stood between the Durango High School boys tennis team and regionals.
The Demons did just that, sweeping Montezuma-Cortez 5-0 in a road contest Tuesday. The Panthers aren’t deep enough to field a No. 3 and No. 4 doubles team, and the Demons left their tow back-end doubles squads in Durango, leaving only five matches to be played.
“Great to get the job done versus Cortez in our last dual before regionals next week,” DHS head coach Dave Weisfeldt said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald.
DHS No. 1 singles star Fred Edwards collected a 6-1, 6-0 win against Rory Walker.
“No problems there. Fred faced a tough first serve from his opponent, but he’s seen that before,” Wesifeldt said.
No. 2 singles player Alijah Konikowski played the closest match of the day and beat Cody Canzona 6-2, 7-5. He trailed in the second set 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 before closing out the last three games.
“Alijah always seems to have the closest matches,” Wesifeldt said. “He showed great tenacity in that second set.”
Durango’s Jake Beekman put his opponent, Grant Gasway, away in two sets after a tight first. He won 6-4, 6-0.
“The rhythm of play threw Jake for a loop a bit in the first set, but he figured it out and settled in,” Weisfeldt said.
The No. 1 doubles team of Will Downs and Micah Hwang got back to its winning ways with a 6-1, 6-4 win against Billy Broughton and Rowdy Veach.
At No. 2 doubles, Amon Ledger-Swenson and Nich Chaney-Roberts took down Noah Peterson and Noah Porter 6-1, 6-2.
“We have a few things to work on before the regionals with compressed practices these last few days before we leave next Wednesday,” Weisfeldt said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com