PHOTOS by Mark Andreasen / CLICK to enlarge / Includes Emily Thaxton singing the National Anthem

By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Ada High School tennis team battled hard but lost to visiting Elida 5-0 in a battle of the Bulldogs at their delayed home opener on a sunny but cool Monday evening, April 20.

The improving Ada netters dropped to 0-3 after the loss. Elida improved to 5-5 with the victory.

“I am proud of the players, I saw so much progress,” said first-year Ada head coach Shelleigh Alexander. “We have only been able to play three matches.”

At first singles, Bulldog senior Justin Bowden lost a 6-1, 6-0 bout to tough Elida senior Leyton Staley. 

“Justin did pretty well but his opponent answered everything he brought,” said the coach.

Ada junior Brandon Prater also fell at second singles to Elida senior Brady Altenbach by a 6-1, 6-0 count.

“Brandon planned to go for more on his shots, and he accomplished that in his match,” said the coach.

Improved junior Lawson Klingler hustled his way into a second-set tiebreaker at third singles against Hunter Lawson of Elida. The Adaite ran down a lot of balls in the all-Lawson battle, and grinded through some long rallies behind a solid forehand and many drop shots.

But Elida freshman Lawson emerged victorious in a 7-1 tiebreaker to win 6-1, 7-6.

“I thought Lawson played well in his third singles debut,” said Alexander.

At first doubles, the duo of purple and gold senior Samuel Crawford and junior newcomer Kaitlyn Lambert lost 6-0, 6-1 to the Elida team of Zane Solomon and Tammy Etzkorn.

“That was the first time those two have played together and they played well, they had a lot of deuce games,” said Alexander. “It is the first year for all the girls. Sam has some experience.”

Ada’s entertaining junior tandem of Brooklynn Andreasen and Jaylin St. Laurent led early but lost 6-2, 6-0 at second doubles to the tandem of Noah Jostpille and quick Leo Chongson. 

The speedy St. Laurent ran down several tough shots, and the promising Andreasen drilled two impressive backhand winners in the first set.

“They are both pretty athletic,” said Alexander.

The pair plays with infectious enthusiasm and is competing well, especially for being first-year newcomers to the sport.

The Ada tandem of Madi Rowland and Cayden Wise lost a junior varsity doubles match to the Elida duo of Logan Ramsdail and Gabe Wilmage 6-3, 6-1.

Senior newcomer Alyssa Nau also looked solid in an all-Ada doubles exhibition bout.

Ada’s scheduled match at home last Saturday vs. Bryan was rained out and will probably not be made up. However, the Fostoria home match will probably be rescheduled at some point. The Alexander coaching tandem hails from Fostoria.

Ada plays at Lima Central Catholic on Thursday, and hosts the Western Buckeye League power Celina (4-4, 4-1 WBL) on Saturday at noon.

“We are looking forward to LCC on Thursday,” said Alexander. She reported that two of the top seven Ada players will be out due to participating in the school play.