LARAMIE – The Torrington Lady Trailblazers picked up a win Saturday over Rock Springs to snag their first conference victory of the season in Laramie.
“They played hard and did not give up points in a hot, long day of tennis,” coach Lyle Wiley said. “Would have liked to see more team wins, but for our first match, I’m encouraged.”
Torrington’s Emi Glass had a solid match in No. 1 singles against Rock Springs’ Sasha Bently. Glass picked up the two-set win, 6-2 and 7-5. Richelle Fitzsimmons win came in No. 2 singles, where she bested Alicia Stevens. She suffered a loss in the first set, 7-5, but rallied to win the next two sets, 6-4 and 6-1.
“She lost her first set of the day and came back to win four straight,” Wiley said of Fitzsimmons. “She stayed in points, moved her opponent around and kept her focus even when the pressure was on. Her performance over the weekend was truly special.”
In doubles action, Sera Glass and Aubree Powell were the only Blazers to pick up a win, with their victory coming in No. 2 doubles. They beat Abby Bettolo and Michelle Butterfield in two sets (6-1, 6-2).
“Excellent tennis from these two,” Wiley said. “They communicated well and fired each other up. They hit excellent angles and did not get down when they made mistakes.”
Shelby Luttrell and Mia Saucedo suffered a loss against Courtney Smith and Rachel Shuler. The Lady Blazers won the first set, 6-3, but then lost the second (6-4) and third (7-6) sets. In the tiebreaker, Saucedo and Luttrell lost 7-1. Sarah Hawkins and Jodee Powell competed in No. 3 doubles, falling to Emily Lininger and Maddie Corbitt in two sets (6-1, 6-1).
Also against Rock Springs, the Torrington boys, who were without Clay Peterson due to illness, lost a nail biter, falling 3-2. Ethan Creagar had a solid day in No. 1 singles, including a win over Ian Fletcher in two sets (6-0, 6-1). In No. 2 singles, Kelly Peterson fell in three sets to John Prevedal (4-6, 6-3, 7-5).
At No. 2 doubles, Mason Weis and Levi Wickham cruised to a win in two sets over Nick Allen and Cole Weidle (6-4, 6-2). They were the only Torrington duo to win against Rock Springs. Brian Fenn and Jaysen Stitt, in No. 1 doubles, fell to Hunter Davidson and Gunner Hamblin in two sets, with the score finishing at 6-3 in each set. In No. 3 doubles, Mason Brummell and Koby Ringle fell to Martin Ayala and Clay Well (6-1, 6-3).
To open the day of action, the Torrington girls took on Green River, where they lost a close one, 3-2. Fitzsimmons gained another win, besting Rory Ratliff 6-1 and 6-0. Glass found herself on the wrong end of a two-set decision against Laura Cecelia (6-0, 6-0).
“She stayed in points, played hard, kept the ball deep and moved well,” Wiley said. “She is getting better every day and developing weapons.”
Sera Glass and Powell again picked up a win in two sets over Kelby Pope and Morgan Atkins, 6-1 and 6-3. Luttrell and Saucedo again forced a third set after winning the first 6-3, but Alex Palmer and Kaitlyn Sharp won the next two (6-2, 6-3) to pick up the win. In No. 3 doubles, Hawkins and Powell fell in two sets to Sydney Beutel and Anna Kimball (6-1, 6-0).
Creagar was the only Torrington boy to win against Green River, besting Gregory Marchal 6-3 and 6-2.
“He looked great. He was super definitive in decision making with limited errors,” Wiley said. “He was efficient with ground strokes. Just an excellent day for Ethan.”
Peterson fell in No. 2 singles against Patrick Marchals (6-4, 6-2).
Weis and Wickham put up a big fight in No. 2 doubles. They won the first set 6-1, and forced a tie breaker in the second set, but fell 9-7. In the third and deciding set, the two Blazers fell 6-4.
Fenn and Stitt lost in No. 1 doubles in two sets, falling 6-3 and 6-2. Brummell and Ringle fell against Jordan Anderson and Brett McKeehan in No. 3 doubles (6-0, 6-1).
The Blazers played on the road against Cheyenne South on Tuesday after press time. The girls return to action Thursday in home matches against Natrona (2 p.m.) and Kelly Walsh (4 p.m.). Both the boys and girls play a triangular at home Saturday. They play Sheridan at 9 a.m. and Laramie at 3 p.m.
