Despite vast improvements, the Montezuma-Cortez High School tennis team continues to struggle.
Playing against Grand Junction Central on Sept. 19, the Panthers were hammered by their Class 5A opponent, losing six of seven matches at home.
The lone win for the Panthers came courtesy of No. 1 singles Cody Canzona, whose consistent groundstrokes and effective net game defeated Camren Thomas 6-3, 3-6, 12-10.
“I played his backhand as much as I could,” said Canzona after the match. “I just had to keep (the ball) in play and let him mess up.”
At No. 2 singles, M-CHS’s Samir Berrada lost to Brigham Beckstead 6-3, 6-2, despite one of his better matches of the season.
Rounding the Panthers singles matches, No. 3 singles player Rory Walker lost to Bryce Atchison 6-0, 6-2.
M-CHS No. 1 doubles Xavier Eddy and Jace Mueller Brent Bollinger and Josh May lost 6-0, 6-2.
In the No. 2 doubles match, M-CHS’s Grand Gasaway and Zach Lampson lost to Kyle Abels and Ryan Larsen 6-0, 6-3.
At No. 3 doubles, Noah Porter and Billy Broughton lost 6-0, 6-0 and at No. 4 doubles, Rowdy Veach and Keelyn Chandler lost 6-0, 6-2.
On Sept. 20, M-CHS travelled to Delta to face Hotchkiss and lost again, this time by a score of 7-0. Two of the Panthers seven losses came as a result of forfit after Berrada missed the match due to an illness and Walker missed the match due to an injury.
Next up for the Panthers will be home matchups against Grand Junction and Montrose on Sept. 27.