The time has finally arrived for the Carson High boys tennis team that it has been waiting for really ever since last summer: Its showdown with Reno High.
Carson will have a chance to see how far it has come when the Senators and the Huskies square off in Reno on Thursday for Sierra League supremacy. Carson set up the showdown with a 14-4 win over Wooster on Tuesday at the CHS courts.
"Here comes Thursday," Carson coach Pat Houlihan said. "The kids have been working. We're just going to see what it's all about.
"We've been talking about it for a couple of weeks, preparing for it. They've got a great program. They're always the premiere team, them and Galena."
While Houlihan knows Reno has a strong all-around team, he also knows Thursday's outcome could come down to his singles play.
"I worked singles hard this week because the challenge is there. I think we can play with them. But singles, they're strong. We have a couple good doubles teams. We've been playing hard doubles (too).
"The bottom like is we're getting better. A couple years back we couldn't even get on the court with them."
Against Wooster, Spencer Brinson won 6-1, Jeff Van Epps won 6-0, Jordan Rogers won 6-0, Tyler Wing won 6-1, Scott Hyunh won 7-6 (7-4), Ben Henningsen won 6-1, Rick Nguyen won 6-4 and Kris Canonigo won 6-2. Jon Lang also played well in a 4-6 loss.
In doubles, Gordon Lee and James Pelz won 6-2, Chris Wear and Nick Smallman won 6-2, Bryt Lewis and Brad Cobler won 6-2, Ian and Luke Gentner won 6-0, Nathaniel Hamer and Grant Jeppson won 6-3 and Alex Wing and Collin Grischott won 6-0. Jordan Miller and Spencer Trapp played well in a 6-7 (5-7) loss as did Spencer Gibb and Tommy Pringle, who lost 4-6 in doubles.
CHS GIRLS 14, WOOSTER 4
Carson's girls (6-1, 5-1) also set up a showdown with Reno for first in the Sierra League. Carson and Reno will play Thursday at CHS.
"We're trying to get ready for the Reno match," Carson coach Diane Baker Roberts said. "6-1 going into Reno isn't bad."
In singles for Carson, Lisa Midboe won 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, Christa Casci won 6-0, 6-2 and Tiffany Moore won 6-4. Elizabeth Gohr played well in two close losses, losing 5-7 and 6-7 (3-7).
Carson swept all nine doubles matches. Jenni Hood and Kristi Philippi won 6-1, 6-0, Meagan Carter and Alyssa Corda won 6-2, 6-2, Emily Wang and Kristin Charles won 6-2, 6-3, Breanna Collings and Corda won 6-1, Sarah Asp and Michelle Mauer won 6-1 and Jenna Greenburg and Joanna Xie won 6-1.