By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman's doubles stars Grace Unruh and Lauren Sweeney have been tested on multiple occasions this fall, but the Viking duo continues to pass every test.
Unruh, a senior, and Sweeney, a junior, remained unbeaten on the season in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational, posting a perfect 3-0 record to win the No. 1 doubles title at Kossover Tennis Center.
After surviving a couple of tough tests from Class 6A opposition in last Saturday's Emporia tournament, Unruh and Sweeney lost just two games on the day in Tuesday's tournament, including a 6-0, 6-0 win over Salina Central in the championship match.
"They don't panic, they don't press and they wait and they play their game and execute their game plan,'' Seaman coach Jamie Robinson said of Unruh and Sweeney, who improved to 24-0 on the season. "They don't play safe, but just do what they need to do.''
Seaman's Lauren Sweeney (left) and Grace Unruh remained unbeaten on the season Tuesday, winning the No. 1 doubles title in the Topeka West Invitational. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Unruh and Sweeney were part of a big day by city players in the 12-school Topeka West tournament, including a team championship by city champ Washburn Rural.
Washburn Rural senior Sheriden Wichman won the No. 1 singles championship while the Junior Blues also got a win from the No. 2 doubles team of Hailey Beck and Shelby Schmutzler as well as a second-place finish from Mena DiMarzio in No. 2 singles and from Meredith Kucera and Kate Fritz in No. 1 doubles en route to the team title by a 51-50 margin over Salina Central.
Washburn Rural senior Sheriden Wichman won the No. 1 singles championship in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational, helping the Junior Blues win the team title. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Wichman took the No. 1 singles crown with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Salina Central's Janae Montoya while Beck and Schmutzler survived a tight match with Salina Central in the No. 2 doubles final to take a 7-6 (8-6 tiebreaker), 6-4 victory.
In addition to the win by Unruh and Sweeney, third-place Seaman got third-place finishes in No. 1 singles from Nina Del-Zio and in No. 2 singles from Katie Krumins.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL TENNIS
Team scores
Washburn Rural 51, Salina Central 50, Seaman 40, Marysville 35, Olathe West 34, Olathe South 33, Manhattan 26, Blue Valley West 26, Topeka West 22, Junction City 17, Leavenworth 15, Shawnee Heights 15.
Individual results
Singles
No. 1 -- Championship: Wichman, Washburn Rural, def. Montoya, Salina Central, 6-4, 6-1. Consolation: Del-Zio, Seaman, def. Jones, Olathe West, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 2 -- Championship: Rupe, Salina Central, def. Di Marzio, Washburn Rural, 4-6, 7-5, 10-8. Consolation: Krumins, Seaman, def. Fosha, Olathe South, 7-5, 6-2.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Championship: Unruh/Sweeney, Seaman, def. Nutter/A. Renfro, Salina Central, 6-0, 6-0. Consolation: Fritz/Kucera, Washburn Rural, def. Gary/Bassham, Olathe South, 6-0, 6-0.
No. 2 -- Championship: Beck/Schmutzler, Washburn Rural, def. C. Renfro/M. Renfro, Salina Central, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4. Consolation: Wollenberg/Thurston, Manhattan, def. Spurgeon/Latta, Marysville, 6-3, 6-4.
