On a school night, no less, Durango High School shut out the Montezuma-Cortez Panthers 7-0 on Tuesday night in a boys tennis dual in Cortez.
“Especially on a school night,” said DHS head coach Dave Weisfeldt, referencing the difficulty of attending a full day of school, then traveling for a dual only to face another full day of school the next day.
Fred Edwards beat Cody Canzona at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0, then Canzona subbed for his No. 2 singles teammate, who defaulted because of sickness, to give the Demons’ No. 2, Drew Downs, some “hitting time.”
Alijah Konikowski finished the Demons’ sweep with a 6-1, 6-1 sweep over the Panthers’ Rory Walker at No. 3 singles.
Jake Schanfarber and Gavin Syme beat Xavier Eddy and Noah Porter 6-3, 5-7, 11-9 at No. 1 doubles, the only Demons to drop a set Tuesday in Cortez.
“It was good to see them turn a corner,” Weisfeldt said.
Micah Hwang and Will Downs beat Grant Gasaway and Jake Muller 6-3, 6-2 at 2-doubles.
“They looked solid, steady,” Weisfeldt said. “They played much better with aerial balls – high lobs, high valleys. They did a good job of closing points.”
Calvin Larson subbed at No. 3 doubles for Riley Wanzek and paired with Blaise Page for a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Zach Lambson and Rowdy Veach.
“Once they got their strategy, they figured it out,” Weisfeldt said.
Jake Beekman and Amon Ledger-Swanson and Jake Beekman beat Billy Broughton and Keelyn Chandler 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 doubles.
Durango will host Grand Junction at 4 p.m. Friday.
“That’ll be a big test,” Weisfeldt said. “They’re always a big dog.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
