Hayden's Gus Glotzbach (left) and Michael Sandstrom posted a second-place Class 4A state doubles finish Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Michael Sandstrom and Gus Glotzbach's bid for the Class 4A doubles championship came up short Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center, but there was plenty for the Hayden underclass duo to feel good about.
After surviving a marathon three-set semifinal match, Sandstrom, a junior, and sophomore Glotzbach gave McPherson seniors Brennan Gipson and Conner Glazner their toughest match of the state tournament in a 6-2, 6-3 loss in the championship match.
And despite the loss, Sandstrom and Glotzbach were decidedly upbeat after the match.
"I'm excited for next year,'' Sandstrom said. "I'm excited where we finished off. It's tough not getting that last win, but it's definitely a good finish for the year.''
Glotzbach agreed.
"Runner-up to the championship definitely exceeds our expectations,'' he said.
Hayden junior Michael Sandstrom returns a shot during Saturday's Class 4A state tournament at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden sophomore Gus Glotzbach teamed with Michael Sandstrom to finish second in Class 4A doubles Saturday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
It took a gutsy semifinal performance for Hayden just to reach the championship match, with Sandstrom and Glotzbach bouncing back from a 7-5 first-set loss to Circle seniors Noah Allison and Drew Middleton to advance with 6-4 and 6-3 victories the next two sets.
"That was a huge boost in confidence,'' Sandstrom said.
After a 1-1 tie early in the first set of the final McPherson took control in the middle stages en route to the 6-2 win.
The Bullpups jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Hayden fought back to forge a 2-2 tie and the set was competitive throughout.
"They battled all day and I couldn't be more proud of them,'' Hayden coach James Sandstrom said. "Sometimes you're not the better team, but I can't question their effort. We gave it our all, so at the end of the day we walk off the courts with our head held high.
"Hats off to McPherson. They were the better team.''
Hayden's doubles team of senior Johnny Holloway and junior Patrick Gorman also earned state medals, posting a 12th-place finish.
Holloway and Gorman ended their day with a 9-2 loss to Winfield's Noah Everett and Chris Norton.
Hayden junior Patrick Gorman teamed with senior Johnny Holloway to take 12th in Class 4A doubles Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Independence won the 4A team championship, edging McPherson by a 36-34 margin. Hayden placed fifth with 17 points.
CLASS 4A TENNIS
Team scores
Independence 36, McPherson 34, Buhler 25, Wellington 23, Hayden 17, Parsons 14, Bishop Miege 11, Circle 11, Winfield 11, El Dorado 10, Labette County 8, Chanute 8, Abilene 5, Iola 5, Paola 5, Ottawa 4, Pratt 3, Fort Scott 2.
Individual results
Singles
Semifinals
Groff, Independence, def. Fox, McPherson, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Lohrentz, Buhler, def. Spriggs, Parsons, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Championship -- Groff, Independence, def. Lohrentz, Buhler, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Third -- Spriggs, Parsons, def. Fox, McPherson, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Fifth -- Ladwig, Bishop Miege, def. Cornejo, Wellington, 9-3.
Seventh -- Greene, El Dorado, def. Lowe, Winfield, 9-2.
Ninth -- Mathes, Labette County, def. Barbarossa, Iola, 9-8 (7-4).
11th -- Coup, Abilene, def. Escobar, Paola, 9-3.
Doubles
Semifinals
Gipson/Glazner, McPherson, def. Morris/Julian, Independence, 6-1, 6-2; Sandstrom/Glotzbach, Hayden, def. Allison/Middleton, Circle, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Championship -- Gipson/Glazner, McPherson, def. Sandstrom/Glotzbach, Hayden, 6-2, 6-3.
Third -- Morris/Julian, Independence, def. Allison/Middleton, Circle, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Fifth -- Krone/E. Harder, Buhler, def. Adams/Rademacher, Wellington, 9-4.
Seventh -- Frederick/Newton, Chanute, def. Houston/Wurm, McPherson, 9-2.
Ninth -- Bertie/Stoner, Independence, def. Wright/Norris, Wellington, 9-0.
11th -- Everett/Norton, Winfield, def. Holloway/Gorman, Hayden, 9-2.
