The Sturgis boys tennis team can now forget about the nearly decade-long drought it experienced against Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West Division foe Battle Creek Lakeview. The Trojans swept all four doubles matches and split with the Spartans in singles at home Monday.
Sturgis improved to 6-2 overall this year. Senior Nick Rehm rolled at No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over accomplished USTA player Brij Banerji, and sophomore Seth Miller didn’t surrender a game at No. 4.
Nick Rehm
“I expected a good result because I know that Coldwater beat [Lakeview] 6-2, and we were up on Coldwater last year,” Sturgis coach George Earl said. “We had lost to Lakeview close last year; we had some three setters last year, and they graduated a few. So I expected a pretty good result. We haven’t beaten Lakeview in probably 8-10 years. It was a while ago. Some years they crushed us, other years it was closer, but we have not won.
“It is very satisfying. They did a good job and I think we played well — the doubles, everybody. They were in it; they were ready for it. I think we prepared well.”
Chad VanDosen and Kris Ransberger finished with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles, the team of Nate Sisson and Andrew Airgood were victories at No. 2 (6-1, 6-4), Ben Sisson and Nick Foley won at No. 3 doubles 6-3, 6-4 and Caleb Northrop and Matt Polzin came out on top in the No. 4 slot with a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
“I knew I had a very solid singles lineup,” Earl said. “Losing Matt White last year — a very powerful, clearly No. 1 singles — Eric [Bartley] has filled those shoes nicely. I have very solid singles. I lost my No. 1 doubles team from last year and No. 2 [from 2012] has moved up to No. 1. They really stepped up this time. My [No. 2 doubles] team is playing well and Nos. 3 and 4 are getting better and better each match.”