The Northwest Christian boys tennis team left it all on the court Monday afternoon in a close 3-2 loss at Shelton High School.
Oliver Hayward was the headliner in first singles, battling through illness to come away with a 6-4, 6-4, win over Easton Wagner. In both sets, Wagner challenged Hayward, who secured points in the clutch to put the contest away.
Hayward led 5-2 in the first set before Wagner fought back, and Hayward also led 5-1 in the second set and was pushed to the brink by Wagner.
“Oliver won in a war,” Northwest Christian head coach Kevin Hayward said. “Oliver played great, but when Easton got behind, he played more conservatively and fought back. By the end, Oliver was dizzy and lightheaded and thought he was going to puke. Super gutsy win.”
Seth Miller of Northwest Christian triumphed in second singles over Isaac Cheston 6-2, 6-0. Northwest Christian’s Grant Bouwman fell just short in third singles against Lalo Hernandez in a tiebreaker 2-6, 6-3, (8-10).
Shelton swept both doubles matches. Addai Beck and JP Egrubay of Northwest Christian lost to Finley Benedict and Hogan Ollenburg 0-6, 2-6, while Jace Beck and Jacky Ye lost to Evan Smith and Eliot Cheston 3-6, 1-6.
“Good match for the team, and we continue to grow and improve,” Hayward said.
Northwest Christian will return home Tuesday to face North Mason.
