By Cort Reynolds

ADA __ The Ada High School boys tennis team played its belated season opener on a cold Thursday at the park courts and defeated visiting Wapakoneta, 3-2.

Ada starts out 1-0 with the win to commemorate the debut of new head coach Carter Bivens. Wapakoneta fell to 0-4 after the close defeat.

Ada senior Nathan Williams lost the closest and longest match of the evening at first singles. He won the first set 6-1, then lost set two by a tight 7-5 count.

Redskin Brayden Hooker then won eight of the last nine points to take the decisive third-set tiebreaker, 10-3. 

Redskin senior Riley Szelagowski used a patient ground-stroking style to outlast Bulldog junior Justin Bowden at second singles by a 6-3, 6-4 score. 

Ada sophomore Brandon Prater convincingly defeated freshman Reese Schadl in their third singles bout 6-0, 6-4.

At first doubles Luke Archer and Lawson Klingler decisively beat Kami Jauert and Olivia Lewis in straight sets 6-4, 6-0. 

The Ada tandem of Mohamed Khalil and Sam Crawford dominated the Redskin freshman duo of Kambree Lighty and Rileigh Peters at second doubles 6-0, 6-0. 

Their double-bagel victory broke a 2-2 tie moments after the first singles match ended, and clinched the match win for the Bulldogs.

Ada plays at Lima Senior Wednesday, April 16.