Tennis squad picks up year's first wins

The Mountain Home Tigers picked up their first tennis win of the season Saturday when both the girls and boys teams beat Jerome at the Air Base courts.

Earlier in the week, the Tigers dropped conference matches to Kuna and Columbia.

Kuna Girls 7, Tiger Girls 0

Kuna Boys 7, Tiger Boys 0

The Mountain Home Tigers opened their season last Monday at Kuna and were shut out in both the girls and boys matches.

The Mountain Home girls #1 doubles team of Anna Martin and Leah Riley lost in three sets, 6-3, 4-6, 0-6. Tessa Pachner and Emma Wenger dropped the #2 doubles match, 1-6, 3-6.

In girls singles, Carolyn Bailey dropped the #1 singles match 0-6, 0-6, Danielle Lord lost the #2 match, 1-6, 0-6, and Sophia Stoltman lost the #3 match 4-6, 0-6.

The Tiger boys best effort was in the #1 doubles as well, as Blake Pachner and Jalen Gibbons lost in three sets 2-6, 6-4, 0-6.

Drew Hopkins and Thomas Miller lost the #2 doubles match 3-6, 1-6. In boys singles, Bryan Wheeler lost the #1 singles match 1-6, 0-6, Ross Pataro lost the #2 match 2-6, 1-6, and John Teng lost the #3 match 3-6, 1-6.

In mixed doubles, Ben Cumber and Brittany Ryan lost the #1 match in a close 5-7, 4-6 battle, while Drew Borgholthaus and Allie Draper lost 3-6, 2-6.

"Everybody had a bad case of of the nerves," said Mountain Home Tiger tennis coach Tamzy House. "Once they got into the match and got a little more confidence, they started winning a few games. Tennis is a game of progress for new players. You start by winning a few points, learn how to win a deuce situation, eventually get a game, then a few more games, then a set, maybe having to win the set in a tie-breaker, eventually getting two sets to win the match, or end up in a three-setter match."

Columbia Girls 7, Tiger Girls 0

Columbia Boys 7, Tiger Boys 0

The Tigers hosted Columbia last Thursday afternoon at the base courts and were shot out by Columbia.

In girls singles, Carolyn Bailey lost the #1 singles match 1-6, 2-6, Sophia Stoltman lost the #2 match 0-6, 0-6, and Shelby DeLeon lost the #3 match 3-6, 1-6.

In girls doubles, Anna Martin and Leah Riley lost the #1 match 0-6, 0-6, and Tessa Pachner and Emma Wenger lost the #2 match 1-6, 3-6.

In boys singles, Bryan Wheeler lost the #1 singles match 4-6, 1-6, Ross Pataro lost the #2 match 0-6, 3-6, and Stephen Bush dropped the #3 match 1-6, 3-6.

In boys doubles, Blake Pachner and Jalen Gibbons battled tough before dropping the #1 match 5-7, 3-6, and Drew Hopkins and Thomas Miller lost the #2 match 3-6, 3-6.

In mixed doubles, Ben Cumber and Brittany Ryan dropped the #1 match in a close one 5-7, 4-6, and Chris Hall and Rachel Kowalewski lost the #2 match 2-6, 1-6.

"Although we did not win any matches, the team won a lot more individual games than they did on Monday," said Coach House. "You can tell that the kids are gaining more confidence in their strokes, resulting in better points played and more games won. It is exciting to see the evolution."

Tiger Girls 6, Jerome Girls 1

Tiger Boys 4, Jerome Boys 3

Saturday saw Mountain Home sweep Jerome in both girls and boys matches at the airbase courts.

In girls singles, Danielle Lord lost the #1 singles match 0-6, 2-6, while Sophia Stoltman and Shelby DeLeon won the #2 and #3 matches by forfeit.

In girls doubles, Anna Martin and Leah Riley won the #1 match 6-0, 6-0, while Tessa Pachner and Emma Wenger won the #2 match by forfeit.

In boys singles, Bryan Wheeler lost the #1 match 1-6, 0-6, Ross Pataro dropped the #2 match 1-6, 4-6, and John Teng lost the #3 match 3-6, 5-7.

In boys doubles, Blake Pachner and Jalen Gibbons won the #1 match 7-6 (TB), 4-6, 6-3, and Justin Rogow and Stephen Bush won the #2 match 6-1, 6-0.

In mixed doubles, Drew Borgholthaus and Allie Draper won the #1 match 6-2, 6-0, and Chris Hall and Rachel Kowalewski won the #2 match by forfeit.

"This was an exciting day for the team," said Coach House after the win. "All the doubles teams won their matches, plus a couple of wins were gained in girls singles. All the matches were hard fought down to the wire."

The Tigers were at Skyview for a conference match Tuesday then are off until April 9 when they go to Bishop Kelly.