Panther girls and boys tennis sweep Audubon

Conditions allowed for Thursday’s boys tennis match between Creston/Orient-Macksburg to be played.

What happened was an opportunity for a number of the Panthers to enjoy time on the court.

Those players who don’t always see time in matches took advantage of their opportunities, having fun in the process.

Creston/Orient-Macksburg easily won the boys match 9-0.

The match allowed coach Kevin Cooper to shuffle the lineup around.

His players enjoyed it thoroughly.

“It was more fun for the kids,” Cooper said. “All the kids involved in doubles matches had a good time.”

Cooper played 10 between singles and doubles.

They were excited about the opportunity to play a varsity match.

“It’s good for the kids that are always here, but don’t always have matches,” Cooper said. “If other schools have six kids, it makes it hard for the kids that practice a lot, but don’t always have the matches. We’re always looking for extra matches for the JV kids.”

The weather was nice enough to play.

“You never know what you’re going to get out here. You could have snow and rain. We’ve had them snowed out before,” Cooper said. “Anytime it doesn’t rain or get cancelled, it’s fun.”

In the girls match at Audubon, Creston/Orient-Macksburg won 9-0, winning most convincingly.

The Panthers bounced back after Monday’s loss at Clarinda.

“Tonight was encouraging for our team after our loss Monday,” said assistant coach Amanda Plymale.

The Panthers were without top player Megan Haley, who is out for next few days with a minor shoulder issue.

“We had a couple of girls having to play up a position and they all performed very well,” Plymale said.

The Panthers controlled most of their matches.

“We did a better job of closing matches that we were leading,” Plymale said.

UP NEXT — Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s girls are at the Knoxville Tournament today.

The boys are at the Saydel Tournament Saturday, being played at the Norwalk Middle School.

The tournaments come at a good point in the season.

“We will have to play well,” Cooper said.

“There will be stiff competition at both of them.”

In the past, Cooper has taken as many players as possible to state.

Those trips have benefited others in the past.

“They can go along ways,” Cooper said. “(Ryan) Kucera watched Garret (Taylor). He (Kucera) was like ‘I want to do this. This is the work to get there.’ Jenna Taylor watched her brother at state in eighth grade. When we take kids to the state tournament, it influences them to want to do this. When we go to these tournaments, we drag everybody we can that wants to go.”

Boys

Creston/Orient-Macksburg 9, Audubon 0

Singles — Jacob Cook (C/O-M) def. Aden Torenton (A) 8-2; Jaden Driskell (C/O-M) def. Bryce Jensen (A) 8-0; Dustin Merritt (C/O-M) def. Dennis Jackson (A) 8-0; Triston Davidson (C/O-M) def. Isaiah Taylor (A) 8-0; Emilien Florentin (C/O-M) def. Landan Frahm (A) 8-2; Walker Patterson (C/O-M) def. Jacob Anderson (A) 8-0.

Doubles — Cook/Driskell (C/O-M) def. Tornenton/Jensen (A) 8-2; Carson Thompson/Jake Hitz (C/O-M) def. Jackson/Frahm (A) 8-5; Ethan Anderson/Dylan Anson (C/O-M) def. Taylor/Anderson (A) 8-1.

Girls

Creston/Orient-Macksburg 9, Audubon 0

Singles — Chloe Hagle (C/O-M) def. Gwen Jensen (A) 8-2; Mattie Wheeler (C/O-M) def. McKenna Nielsen (A) 8-2; Madison Callahan (C/O-M) def. May Svoboda (A) 8-3; Sara Williamson (C/O-M) Grace Christensen (A) 8-1; Livi Hartman (C/O-M) def. Amber Campbell (A) 8-0; Heylee Shields (C/O-M) def. Clare Christensen (A) 8-1.

Doubles — Hagle/Wheeler (C/O-M) def. Jensen/Nielsen (A) 8-4; Shields/Callahan (C/O-M) def. Svoboda/G. Christensen (A) 8-3; Williamson/Hartman (C/O-M) def. Rachel Mosinski/C. Christensen (A) 8-0.

JV singles — Leah Stow (C/O-M) def. Mosinski (A) 6-3; Macy Evans (C/O-M) def. Maria Rivas (A) 6-1; Rebecca Coleman (C/O-M) def. Amber Campbell (A) 6-2; Katie Reed (C/O-M) def. Rivas (A) 6-4.

JV doubles — Campbell/Mosinski (A) def. Maisy Franklin/Payton Davis (C/O-M) 6-4.