After key wins against MICDS, Clayton, and Belleville West, the Westminster varsity tennis team remained hot and kept a perfect season as they earned an ABC league title last week.  The Wildcats edged out MICDS in the ABC tournament in the last match.  Cameron Smith, senior, and Bailey Merkel, freshman defeated another senior/freshman combo in a super-tiebreaker to clinch the title as daylight became an issue.  Merkel, along with Derek Bell, freshman, Connor Zielonko, senior, and Nathan Arnold, sophomore all won their singles flights.  The doubles teams of Smith/Merkel, Zach Schopp, senior, and John Hunsicker, senior, and Luke Schroeder, senior and Reed Montgomery, freshman, all won their flights to contribute to the overall team title.
“There are a lot good teams in that tournament.  To be the best means that we’re taking another step forward,” said Timmy Miller, co-captain.
The Wildcats then defeated John Burroughs in a dual match convincingly, 9-0.  After a rained out Kirkwood match, the varsity tennis team traveled to Columbia for the Rockbridge Invitational.  Rockbridge, last year’s class 2 state champions, invited Westminster and six other top teams from the state to participate in their tournament.  The Wildcats defeated Lafayette in the semifinals but lost in the finals to Rockbridge.
“Our boys played with heart and put up a great fight,” said Nathan Talley, head coach.
Merkel remained undefeated by beating the Rockbridge number 4.
“It was a thing of beauty to watch this freshman take control of a match against a very experienced Rockbridge senior,” said Talley.
Come catch the Wildcats as they prepare for postseason play that begins May 7th.