TENNIS: Tiger netters split opening dual meets

Against Licking, J.J. Smith, Braiden Gapsch, Emmett Headrick, Kaison Wilmont, Blayne Canaday and Charlie Terrill all posted singles victories while Smith/Gapsch, Headrick/Wilmont and Canaday/Terrill got the doubles wins.

Against the West Plains Zizzers, the doubles team of Gapsch/Terrill and Canaday and Terrill in singles play got victories for Salem.

“(Against Licking) the match of the night was Emmett Headrick,” said Salem coach Will Hubbs. “After getting down 1-6, he went on to win seven straight games to win, 8-6. He calmed himself and began hitting some really good shots, and as things began clicking for him, he gained more and more confidence. By the end of the match he was winning every single point. I was very proud of him for regaining his composure and getting the win.

“West Plains is a very tough team and we did a great job to get three matches off of them. We have played really well to start the year. Charlie Terrill, Blayne Canaday and Braiden Gapsch are just sophomores and they are playing really well to start the year. This sets the stage for a good year.”

This week the Tigers were slated to host dual meets against Houston Tuesday, Potosi Wednesday and Willow Springs Thursday, all to begin at 4 p.m. at Salem City Park.

Here are last week’s results, with the Salem players listed first:

March 19 – Salem 9, Licking 0

Doubles: J.J. Smith/Braiden Gapsch beat Albert Gyory/Wade Joshawa, 8-3; Emmett Headrick/Kaison Wilmont beat Kara Williams/Calyn Huff, 8-4; Blayne Canaday/Charlie Terrill beat Hannah Beasley/Elisabeth Bonine, 8-4. Singles: Smith beat Gyory, 8-0; Gapsch beat Williams, 8-1; Headrick beat Wade, 8-6; Wilmont beat Huff, 8-1; Canaday beat Beasley, 8-0; Terrill beat Bonine, 8-1.

March 21 – West Plains 6, Salem 3

Varsity – Doubles: Smith/Canaday lost to Hunter Graham/Jonathon Davis, 8-0. Headrick/Wilmont lost to Adam Vaughan/Justin Davis, 8-4. Gapsch/Terrill beat Ethan Mongillo/James McEntire, 8-2. Singles: Smith lost to Graham, 8-0; Gapsch lost to Davis, 9-7; Headrick lost to Vaughan, 8-1; Wilmont lost to Mongillo, 8-1; Canaday beat Davis, 8-6; Terrill beat McEntire, 9-8 (7-4).

Junior Varsity – Doubles: Jordan Hubbs/Fatima Careaga lost, 6-1; Osmar Ramirez-Briceno/Linkyn Atkinson won, 6-1; Cameron Seay/Noah Gerischer won, 6-4; Billy McDonald/Jackson Roderman won, 6-4; Jessie Fulton/Tabitha Deller lost, 6-1; Hannah Greener/Ave Wofford lost, 7-5; Clara Cooper/Jhonine Maralit lost, 6-0; Canyon Warden/Trinity Haas lost, 6-0.