CONWAY SPRINGS — Central Plains singles champion Camden Stiles (24-1) joined sixth-place Cale Thompson (14-17), doubles runner-up Paxton Dody/Peyton Dody (25-5) and fourth-place Nethan Cauthon/Alden Metro (24-6) as 3-1A state tennis qualifiers.
The Oilers (19) captured the team title over Conway Springs (16). The 3-1A state tournament is May 16-17 at Topeka.
"To send a full team to state and win a difficult regional is a great accomplishment," said Central Plains coach Michael Ryan. "I was proud of the guys and how well they competed. Our guys have spent a lot of time on the courts and deserve the success they’ve seen this season. We look forward to having the opportunity to compete in Topeka."
Stiles defeated Sterling's Jace Darnauer, 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 for first place. Ellinwood's Grey Ringwald (18-11) downed Thompson, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 for fifth place. Stiles (28-9) placed seventh last year in 3-1A.
"Stiles hit his ground strokes and passing shots well," coach Ryan said. "Camden competed really well to get a win against one of the top players in the state from Sterling."
Conway Springs' Layne Whitney/Isaac Winter defeated Dody/Dody, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 for first place. Sterling's Ben Bierstedt/Zac Wohler defeated Cauthon/Metro, 6-4, 6-3 for third place. The Dodys (26-9) finished eighth last year in 3-1A. Caution-Metro (26-9) finished 12th at state.
"For the Dodys, I’d say their hands at the net were good," Ryan said. "They were able to put away volleys when they got their opportunities."
Conway Springs' Eli Benge/Joe Beck downed Ellinwood's Ty Hammeke/Ethan Schlochtermeier, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 for fifth place. Hammeke/Schlochtermeier own a 21-6 record.
3-1A CONWAY SPRINGS
TEAM SCORES—1—Central Plains 19; 2—Conway Springs 16; 3—Sterling 11; 4—Ellinwood 6; 5—Lyons 4; 6—Chaparral 1
SINGLES
1ST—Camden Stiles, CP def. Jace Darnauer, Sterling, 6-0, 2-6, 6-4; Stiles 24-1; Darnauer 22-6
3RD—Levi Mies, CS def. Fred Chuen, Lyons, 6-0, 6-3; Mies 23-8; Chuen 13-9
5TH—Grey Ringwald, Ellinwood def. Cale Thompson, CP, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Ringwald 18-11; Thompson 14-17
SEMIFINALS—Stiles def. Fred Chuen, Lyons, 6-0, 6-1
QUARTERFINALS—Stiles def. Cale Thompson, CP, 6-0, 6-0; Levi Mies, CS def. Grey Ringwald, Ell, 6-1, 6-0
CONSOLATION—Thompson def. Tobias Peake, Chap, injury; Ringwald def. Grayson Allen, CS, 6-1, 7-5
FIRST ROUND—Stiles def. Steven Nisly, Fair, 6-0, 6-0; Thompson def. Cooper Patterson, N, 6-4, 6-0; Ringwald def. James McGlynn, Sterling, 6-3, 6-2; Jace Darnauer, Sterling def. Chris Rugan, Ell, 6-0, 6-1
DOUBLES
1ST—Layne Whitney/Isaac Winter, CS def. Paxton Dody/Peyton Dody, CP, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; Whitney/Winter, 22-6; Dody/Dody, 25-5
3RD—Ben Bierstedt/Zac Wohler, Sterling def. Nethan Cauthon/Alden Metro, CP, 6-4, 6-3; Bierstedt/Wohler, 19-11; Cauthon/Metro, 24-6
5TH—Eli Benge/Joe Beck, CS def. Ty Hammeke/Ethan Schlochtermeier, Ellinwood, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2; Benge/Beck, 18-7; Hammeke/Schlochtermeier, 21-6
SEMIFINALS—Dody/Dody def. Cauthon/Metro, 6-2, 7-5
QUARTERFINALS—Dody/Dody def. Dominic Martinez/Brayden Robl, Ell, 6-3, 6-2; Bierstedt/Wohler def. Hammeke/Schlochtermeier, 6-1, 7-5; Cauthon/Metro def. Benge/Beck, 3-6, 6-0 (10-5)
CONSOLATION—Hammeke/Schlochtermeier def. Walker/Reyes, Chap, 6-4, 6-2; Cauthon/Metro Benge/Beck def. Martinez/Robl, 6-1, 6-2
FIRST ROUND—Dody/Dody def. Redmond/Dalton, Kingman, 6-0, 6-0; Hammeke/Schlochtermeier def. Trace DeShon/Isaac Sant, Sterling, 6-1, 6-1; Martinez/Robl def. Rustin Denton/Kevin Ricker, Chap, 6-1, 6-2; Cauthon/Metro def. Melton/Schneider, N, 6-0, 6-0
