By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Playing for Washburn Rural for the first time since 2019, senior singles standout Mason Thieu turned in a dominating perormance Tuesday as the Junior Blues opened their season with a big day in Rura's Too Big Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center.
Thieu, who was a state placer as a freshman for Rural before competing out of state, went 3-0 on the day without dropping a game, winning the No. 1 singles championship. Thieu topped junior teammate Mason Casebeer 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu makes a return in Tuesday's Too Big Invitational. Thieu won the No. 1 singles title without dropping a game. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park and Zach Willingham captured the No. 1 doubles title, taking an 8-2 win over Olathe East in the championship match.
Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park (left) and Zach Willingham won the No. 1 doubles championship in Tursday's season-opening Too Big Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Team scores weren't kept Tuesday, but the Junior Blues also won the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles titles as Washburn Rural won four out of five divisions.
Justin Kruse ws the runner-up in the No. 2 singles division to pace Seaman
TOO BIG INVITATIONAL
Individual results
Singles
No. 1 -- Championship: Thieu, Washburn Rural def. Casebeer, Washburn Rural, 6-0. Third: Magee, Topeka West, def. Wise, Gardner-Edgerton, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 2 -- Championship: Parrin, Salina Sacred Heart, def. Kruse, Seaman, 8-5. Third: Luetje, Washburn Rural, def. Prettejohn, Olathe East, 8-5.
No. 3 -- Championship: Nelson, Washburn Rural, def. Rundel, Washburn Rural, 8-2. Third: Wagnon, Seaman, def. Williams, Washburn Rural, 8-3.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Championship: Park/Willingham, Washburn Rural, def. Hanou/Blasi, Olathe East, 8-2. Third: Lorenzo/Matthews, Junction City, def. Byerly/Natarjan, Manhattan, 8-4.
No. 2 -- Championship: Labatos/Dodge, Washburn Rural, def. Arnold/Spiegel, Manhattan, 8-3. Third: Forssberg/LeBar, De Soto, def. Engel/Rutledge, Topeka West, 8-7, 7-5.
