April 25, 2025
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Tennis teams split openers

Girls win 8-1 at Red Oak

By LARRY PETERSON
Creston No. 1 singles player Spencer Brown hustles to an approach shot during his match Tuesday against Red Oak. Brown and Wesley Wires fell in a tiebreaker doubles match to Red Oak's No. 1 doubles team.

Creston No. 1 singles player Spencer Brown hustles to an approach shot during his match Tuesday against Red Oak. Brown and Wesley Wires fell in a tiebreaker doubles match to Red Oak's No. 1 doubles team. (Larry Peterson)

Creston tennis opened the 2025 season Tuesday, with an inexperienced boys team falling 9-0 at home to Red Oak, while the girls prevailed 8-1 at Red Oak.

The No. 1 boys doubles team of senior veteran Spencer Brown and varsity newcomer Joel Wires was edged by Red Oak’s Landon Gigstad and Ethan Strunk, 9-8 on an 11-9 tiebreaker. New varsity players Dylan Dornack and Carson Beer played strong at No. 3 doubles in an 8-6 loss to Kaleb Sebeniecher and Jackson Perdue. Dornack also scored four points in his loss at No. 5 singles.

“It was great to get out and play against another team,” Creston head coach Kevin Cooper said. “We had a few closer matches, but Red Oak proved to be too much for our team tonight. A lot of our boys are moving up six to eight spots compared to what they played last year. They have worked hard during practice, and we will just keep trying to improve every night. We play Atlantic at home on Thursday.”

Creston's Dylan Dornack reaches to return a shot during his No. 5 singles match Tuesday. Dornack and Carson Beer competed well in No. 3 doubles, falling 8-6.

Creston's Dylan Dornack reaches to return a shot during his No. 5 singles match Tuesday. Dornack and Carson Beer competed well in No. 3 doubles, falling 8-6. (Larry Peterson)

The Creston girls squad returns its top two players in seniors Ava Adamson and Sasha Wurster, and both won close singles matches to get the Panthers started in their 8-1 win Tuesday. All of the singles matches were competitive battles except for Hollynn Rieck’s 8-1 triumph over Red Oak’s Sianna Kelpinger.

In doubles play, four returning Creston varsity players rolled to wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, while newcomers Shaylee Coen and Marlee Stalker won a 9-7 battle at No. 3 doubles.

Creston junior Carson Beer approaches the net to return a shot against Red Oak Tuesday.

Creston junior Carson Beer approaches the net to return a shot against Red Oak Tuesday. (Larry Peterson)

“Tonight was a great way for our girls team to start our season,” Cooper said. “We used two different sites for varsity and JV and the girls all got to play multiple matches. for some of them it was their first tennis matches, so it was nice to get the jitters out of the way. Our varsity team played really well. There were some close matches where we were behind, and they just kept competing and came back to win. Our seniors, Ava Adamson and Sasha Wurster, each won their singles and doubles matches and led the way for us as anchors at the top of the lineup.”

Wesley Wires of Creston hits an overhand volley during his match against Red Oak Tuesday.

Wesley Wires of Creston hits an overhand volley during his match against Red Oak Tuesday. (Larry Peterson)

The girls travel to Atlantic on Thursday.

BOYS

Red Oak 9, Creston 0

Singles — Brett Erickson (RO) def. Spencer Brown (Cr), 8-1; Landon Gigstad (RO) def. Wesley Wires (Cr), 8-3; Ethan Strunk (RO) def. Ben Rushing (Cr), 8-3; Kalen Sebeniecher (RO) def. Tim Bartlett (Cr), 8-6; Jackson Perdue (RO) def. Dylan Dornack (Cr), 8-4; AJ Beeson (RO) def. Carson Beer (Cr), 8-0.

Doubles — Gigstad-Strunk (RO) def. Brown-Wires (Cr), 9-8 (11-9); Erickson-Beeson (RO) def. Rushing-Bartlett (Cr), 8-2; Sebeniecher-Perdue (RO) def. Dornack-Beer (Cr), 8-6.

GIRLS

Creston 8, Red Oak 1

Singles — Ava Adamson (Cr) def. Mariel Ramirez (RO), 9-7; Sasha Wurster (Cr) def. Sophie Snyder (RO), 8-5; Hollynn Rieck (Cr) def. Sianna Kelpinger (RO), 8-1; Kennedy Strider (Cr) def. Bree Mitchell (RO), 8-5; Lauren Dean (RO) def. Shaylee Coen (Cr), 8-6; Marlee Stalker (Cr) def. Mariella Hernandez (RO), 8-6.

Doubles — Wurster-Rieck (Cr) def. Ramirez-Snyder (RO), 8-2; Adamson-Strider (Cr) def. Mitchell-Anna Butz (RO), 8-2; Coen-Stalker (Cr) def. Dean-Hernandez (RO), 9-7.

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.