Sturgis boys tennis continues solid start, remains unbeaten in conference play
STURGIS — The Sturgis tennis team continues to have a strong start to its season.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, they played to a gritty 4-4 draw with visiting Paw Paw on Monday afternoon. Despite the draw, Sturgis remains unbeaten in conference play at 2-0-2.
Sturgis won all four of its singles matches on the evening. Coach George Earl said Cooper Barkby had the match of the day at fourth singles, he had an up and down match but showed emotional and strategical maturity in tough situations.
Barkby won 7-5, 3-6 and 6-3. Also winning on the evening was Simon Phillips at first singles 6-4, 7-5; Carter Oswald at second singles 6-1, 6-0 and Brody Currier at third singles 6-2, 6-1.
Sturgis fell in all four doubles matches.
The top team of Easton Barkby and Andrew Scheske dropped a 6-4, 6-1 match while Alex Cypher and Seth Larimer were upended 6-2, 6-4 at second doubles. The third doubles team of Dominic Brown and Andrew Cypher were ousted 6-3, 6-2 while Brayden Bibb and Kellen Meyer fell 6-3, 6-4 at fourth doubles.
In junior varsity action, Sturgis won 6-1. Picking up wins for the Trojans were Zach Charles at second singles, Anthony Park at third singles, the duo of Connor Handyside and Oliver Stewart at first doubles plus Nixson Orpilla and Alex Hambright at second doubles.
On Saturday, Sturgis finished fourth overall in the Mason Invitational. There were eight teams competing.
“The team showed their conditioning and mental toughness by competing strong up to the last sets played,” Earl said.
Brody Currier finished as the runner-up in his flight at third singles on the day.
Also finishing second overall was the second doubles team of Alex Cypher and Seth Larimer.
Earlier last week, Sturgis picked up a 6-2 victory over Coldwater on the courts.
All four singles players earned wins. Simon Phillips won over Logun Fisher 6-1, 6-0 and Carter Oswald beat Joe Searls 6-3, 6-2 at second singles. Currier cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win while Cooper Barkby won at fourth singles in 6-0, 7-5 fashion.
The first doubles team of Easton Barkby and Andrew Scheske won their match 6-0, 6-2. Also picking up a win was the fourth doubles team of Brayden Bibb and Kellen Meyer at 6-4, 6-4.
Sturgis also beat up on Niles, 7-1. Phillips, Oswald, Currier and Cooper Barkby all won their matches by double bagels at 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, the top team of Easton Barkby and Scheske won 6-1, 7-5. Dominic Brown and Andrew Cypher won at third doubles 6-3, 6-2 while Bibb and Meyer won their match at fourth doubles in three sets at 6-1, 3-6 and 6-2.
Sturgis played to a 4-4 tie with Vicksburg. Oswald and Currier both won matches. The team of Easton Barkby and Scheske won at first doubles, Alex Cypher and Larimer won at second doubles.
The Trojans beat Edwardsburg earlier this year as well.
Contact Sports Editor Brandon Watson at bwatson@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @BwatsonSJ.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Trojans come in fourth place on Saturday in Mason
