Philomath High’s boys tennis team continued to see exceptional results in the singles lineup Tuesday with all four players notching wins in a 7-0 sweep of visiting North Marion.
Senior Nate Houck, who improved to 10-0 on the season, battled past his North Marion opponent 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8) in one of the day’s more competitive matches. Only in his second year of high school tennis, Houck has emerged as one of the team’s most reliable performers — a development that coach Byron Holroyd attributes to a sharp tennis IQ.
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“Nate’s fun to watch because he just manages well and he’s an extremely intelligent player,” Holroyd said. “He plays the angles, he plays the corners, he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Houck said his opponent forced him to adjust his approach early in the match.
“I like charging the net a lot and he had a really good counter where he just hits it to one side so after the first set, I realized I had to not charge the net as often,” Houck said.
He also acknowledged he didn’t bring his sharpest start to the court.
“I think I may have walked in today a little bit cocky and did not play as well at the start as I could have,” Houck said.
Houck credited offseason work for his strong spring, noting that he took private lessons with a former pro over the summer and winter. He also said he tries to share what he’s learned with teammates.
“I give them tips whenever I can and just help them improve as best I can — playing in practice and also helping out,” Houck said, adding that he feels a strong team chemistry.
The mental side of the game, Houck said, remains his biggest hurdle. Asked what will make the difference down the stretch, he responded, “Just don’t get in my own head.”
At No. 1 singles, freshman Cameron Barlow outlasted Daniel Miranda 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to push his record to 8-2. Holroyd said the match was a grinder between two players with equal abilities on the court.
“They were really similar-style players with just a lot of running and outlasting each other but he got it done,” Holroyd said. “Cameron’s been playing really well. He was coasting pretty well the first part of the season … and then last week he had some pretty challenging matches. But he hung in there and battled back.”
Barlow’s stamina on the court may be helped by his work as a cross-country runner.
“He never gets tired, he’s always ready to go,” Holroyd said. “He’s always ready to stay late at practice and keep playing.”
Freshman Andrew Sims, the other unbeaten in Philomath’s singles lineup, cruised past his North Marion opponent 6-2, 6-1.
“He’s just coasting, he’s playing really well,” Holroyd said. “I hate to say it but it’s unfortunate — it’s not unfortunate that he’s coasting but I’d like to see him get pushed a little bit.”
Senior Lane Schell, who opened the season at No. 1 singles before Holroyd moved him to the No. 3 slot, defeated Sawyer Rostocil 6-1, 6-2 to improve to 5-4.
“Any given day, Lane can beat anybody,” Holroyd said. “He just gets frustrated and gets in his head and we’ve been working hard on that.”
Holroyd said the singles lineup is now set with Barlow, Houck, Schell and Sims heading into the district tournament, which begins the week of May 11 at Estacada before state qualifying matches at the Salem Swim and Tennis Club.
The Warriors also swept the doubles matches against the Huskies. Freshman Liam Cole, recently returned to the lineup, teamed with sophomore Samuel Holroyd at No. 1 doubles for a 6-2, 6-2 win. Freshmen Elijah Arthurs and Lev Grose took No. 2 doubles 7-6 (7), 6-1, and junior Kayden Reynolds and sophomore Mika Laukkanen Raskauskas won at No. 3 by a 7-6 (6), 6-3 margin.
“Doubles are kind of coming on a little bit and starting to click,” Houck said, crediting Cole’s return for boosting the lineup.
Philomath continues a busy home stretch this week with matches Wednesday against Cascade and Thursday against Estacada.
Philomath 7, North Marion 0
Tuesday, April 28, at Philomath HS
Singles
Cameron Barlow, PHS, def. Daniel Miranda, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Nate Houck, PHS, def. Mario G., 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8); Lane Schell, PHS, def. Sawyer Rostocil, 6-1, 6-2; Andrew Sims, PHS, def. Joan Ortega, 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles
Samuel Holroyd/Liam Cole, PHS, def. Giovanni Rodriguez/Osmar Garcia, 6-2, 6-2; Elijah Arthurs/Lev Grose, PHS, def. Antwuan Marin/David Hoper, 7-6 (7), 6-1; Kayden Reynolds/Mika Laukkanen Raskauskas, PHS, def. Dziel Bahena/Alvaro Solorzano, 7-6 (6), 6-3.
