Blue Lions sending 3 to Districts

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The Washington Blue Lion tennis team will have three players competing in the District tournament Saturday at Ohio University in Athens.

Singles player Kenny Upthegrove and a doubles team, Madalyn Wayne and Grant Mustain, advanced from the Portsmouth Sectional to the District level of the postseason.

In the Sectional for Washington, Jordan Behm lost to Freeland of Marietta, 6-1, 6-2.

Grant Kuhlwein beat Workman of Waverly, 6-0, 7-6.

He then fell to Juan Diego Navas of Miami Trace, 6-2, 6-1.

Upthegrove began the Sectional with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ely Schritzinger of Miami Trace.

He followed that with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Stant of Logan Elm.

Upthegrove defeated Kitchens of Waverly, 6-2, 6-3.

After a 6-1, 6-1 loss to Bodum of Jackson, Upthegrove rebounded with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Haines of New Boston and a 6-4, 6-2 win over Freeland of Marietta.

Max Schroeder and Jack Luebbe lost their first match in the Sectionals in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 2-6 to Marietta.

Wayne and Mustain began with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win against a duo from Portsmouth.

After a tough 6-0, 6-0 loss to Gallia Academy, they bounced back with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Unioto.

“Kenny, our No. 1 singles, played very well in the tournament,” Washington head coach Greg Phipps said. “When it came down to the final eight, he had a tough match right off.

“Then, the next two guys he competed against, he did a very good job,” Phipps said. “Anytime you play three matches in one day, you’re not used to doing that.

“All the kids were pretty worn out,” Phipps said. “Kenny was able to stay very strong.

“The doubles team, they would say by their (record) they didn’t have the greatest season,” Phipps said. “They thought they could have had a little better season, but they competed well. Of course, good enough to be a No. 7 seed in the Districts. We were very proud of them, too.”

Kenny Upthegrove was First Team, All-SCOL for 2017.

Grant Kuhlwein was Second Team, All-SCOL this season.

The District tennis tournament begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Washington Blue Lion tennis team will have three of its members competing in the District tournament Saturday, May 20 at Ohio University in Athens. (l-r); Grant Mustain, Kenny Upthegrove and Madalyn Wayne. Upthegrove is a singles player and Mustain and Wayne are a doubles team. They are joined on the courts at Gardner Park by head coach Greg Phipps.
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/05/web1_Blue-Lion-tennis-District-qualifiers-2017.jpgThe Washington Blue Lion tennis team will have three of its members competing in the District tournament Saturday, May 20 at Ohio University in Athens. (l-r); Grant Mustain, Kenny Upthegrove and Madalyn Wayne. Upthegrove is a singles player and Mustain and Wayne are a doubles team. They are joined on the courts at Gardner Park by head coach Greg Phipps. Chris Hoppes | Record-Herald

By Chris Hoppes

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Reach Chris Hoppes at 740-335-3611, ext. 1104, or on Twitter @choppes1

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