It’s been a strange week for Durango High School boys tennis, a squad that likely is just happy to be playing tennis this weekend at the Western Slope Open in Grand Junction.
Head coach Laura Ehlers said assistant coach Karin Wilson stepped down last Thursday, and her resignation and other issues the coach refused to discuss had a ripple effect resulting in DHS carrying only three singles players and one doubles team this weekend.
“Karin Wilson resigned last Thursday, and due to her resignation and other things, we lost about three days of match play, so we were kind of behind the ball in putting together a full team as well as transportation issues,” Ehlers said.
“Just because of all those variables, that’s why we had to take a skeleton team, but I fully anticipate – I know we will – have a full varsity team to travel next week.”
No. 1 singles player Ryder Searle lost 6-4, 2-6, then 10-5 in a tiebreaker to Chatfield in his first match on the first day of the two-day event, then topped Columbine 10-1 and Fruita Monument 10-4 in pro sets.
Fred Edwards won his first match for DHS at No. 2 singles, beating Heritage 6-3, 6-2 before losing to Grand Junction 6-2, 4-6, 10-4. He responded with a win over Fruita Monument 10-3 in consolation play.
No. 3 singles player Dylan Blair lost 6-2, 6-4 to Littleton, then beat Montrose 10-0 before losing to Aspen 10-4 and Fruita 10-8.
The lone doubles team, Alec Ensign and Drew Downs, played at No. 2 doubles. They lost to Mountain Vista 6-2, 6-1 before beating Dakota Ridge 10-5 and losing to Air Academy 10-3 and Ralston Valley in a 7-0 tiebreaker after a 10-10 tie.
On Thursday, DHS played Steamboat Springs in Grand Junction and split four matches. Searle won 6-1, 6-1, and Edwards won 6-0, 6-0. Blair lost 6-4, 6-1, while Ensign and Downs lost 6-4, 2-6, 10-7.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
