Head Coach Ken Hamilton and his Greenwood High School netters opened the 2018 tennis season with a decisive win on the road over 5A West conference foe Russellville last Thursday. Two earlier matches were cancelled, at least one of which may be rescheduled at a later date.
In boys’ play, GHS senior Kenny Sweeney began his 2018 singles campaign with a convincing but hard-fought 8-4 win. Sophomore Zackery Beshears, making the move this year from doubles to singles, competed well in his opening match, but fell just short in a 7-9 loss.
Greenwood’s top boys’ doubles team of senior Auston Shown and sophomore Jonathan Mitchell won their match 8-3. Senior Jack Gaston and sophomore Micah Belue lost 6-8 in a close contest.
For the Lady Bulldogs, Olivia Gaston won her first singles match of the new school year, cruising to a dominating 8-0 victory, as did fellow junior and teammate Abigail Woodring, who also posted an impressive 8-0 win.
Newcomer Leighton Haralson and veteran Amber Alzufari, both seniors, teamed up for their first doubles match and won easily 8-0. Junior Madie Pelt and senior Karli Fisher also won 8-0 in their first outing of the new season.
Both Greenwood teams were slated to play at Siloam Springs this past Monday before hosting their first matches of the season on Tuesday against visiting Van Buren. The GHS community tennis courts just recently reopened after extensive renovations to the playing surface.
On Thursday both Greenwood teams are scheduled to play Beebe and Little Rock Christian in conference action at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. A similar match between the three schools was cancelled last Monday and may be made up later.