Doubles pull through for Falcon boys tennis

Published 3:49 pm Friday, September 13, 2013

An injury default loss nearly cost the South Whidbey boys tennis team its season-opening match against Anacortes this week.

The three doubles teams pulled through for the Falcons to down the Seahawks, 4-3, on Tuesday. In the first competitive action the boys saw, three singles players lost: Jack Hood, Jonathon Peterson and Andy Zisette.

Anacortes’ top player, Jared Wigen won 6-1, 6-1.

Falcon junior Charley Stelling claimed the only singles victory in a 6-4, 6-4 match over Kaleb Wigen.

Peterson had to withdraw from a two-and-a-half-hour match after cramping in his legs. He challenged Anacortes’ Kevin Xue in a first-set tiebreaker, but lost 7-6 (7-5). Peterson, a junior, battled back in the second set and won 6-3. After winning the first two games in the third set, he defaulted due to injury.

“After getting a lead in the third he just couldn’t play any more,” said Falcon head coach Karyle Kramer in an email.

Newcomer Andy Zisette, also a junior, fell in his first match with Anacortes’ Garrett Manion, 6-2, 6-3.

South Whidbey’s more experienced group came through in the doubles matches. Top Falcon doubles duo Trent Fallon and Nathan Riley fought off the Seahawks’ Ben Bellusci and Hunter Wickman 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

The second doubles team, Campbell Albertsen and Beau Blakey, rebounded after dropping the second set, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Third doubles team Lucas Christiansen and John Cary dropped Anacortes’ tandem Garrett Higgins and Derek Vance 6-4, 6-4.