By Travis Smola
The Bulldog varsity tennis team had something of a rough start to the season. But it’s getting better.
The opening matches of the year were against Edwardsburg and Gull Lake in a tri-meet. Vicksburg lost to Gull Lake 7-1, with the lone victory coming for Jackson Bowles in the number one singles, 7-4 and 6-4. Edwardsburg shut out the Bulldogs despite a battle from number two single Nathaniel Klimek and the three doubles team of Jordan Diekman and Gabe Ryder.
The Bulldogs picked up their first team win of the year over Niles. Bowles won the number one singles 6-3, 6-0. Klimek took the number two singles 6-1, 6-1. Logan Schwenk dominated the number three singles 6-0, 6-0. And Harrison Barton took the number four singles 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles action, number ones Luke Wilson and Kyle Szdlowski picked up the win 6-4, 6-0. Number two team Jackson Aguillon and Travis Newton went 6-4, 6-3 over their Viking opponents. Diekman and Ryder took the number three doubles in the toughest matchup of the night at 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Freshmen Sawyer Kite and Caden Town won the number four doubles 6-4, 6-4.
At the Shamrock Tournament the boys had a strong showing with the team defeating Buchanan 7-1, and Three Rivers 5-3. They came up against a tough Berrien Springs team there and Bowles was the only Bulldog to come out with a win.
Vicksburg defeated Paw Paw and Plainwell 5-3 in their next two head-to-head matchups before dropping their most recent matchup to Hackett 6-2. In that matchup, Diekman and Ryder and Kite and Town were the only Bulldogs to come away victorious.
The team only has a few more matchups left in the season before Conference play.
