Brian Norris goes low to make a volley during one of his district matches Wednesday. (Lorene Norris photo)
Sebastian Davis brings the power. (Lorene Norris photo)
The end result did not equal the trip.
Despite giving veteran Coupeville High School boys’ tennis coach Ken Stange “one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve ever had,” the Wolves hit a brick wall doing 80 Wednesday at the district tennis tourney in Langley. Despite both of their singles and both doubles teams winning at least one match, Coupeville failed to advance anyone to quad-districts.
The introduction of South Whidbey, a perennial tennis power, back to 1A tennis hurt CHS, as the Falcons claimed both of the top spots in the cutthroat doubles competition. That snapped a three-year run as a a district champ for Wolf senior Nathan Lamb, who won doubles titles his first two years on the court, before moving to singles last season.
This time around, Lamb played singles all season, then teamed up with fellow singles player Aaron Curtin to form a formidable duo. They lost a tough semifinal match to a South Whidbey squad, then rebounded to beat Wolf teammates Ben Etzell and Jason Knoll (subbing for an ill Ben Wehrman) in the third-place match.
Sebastian Davis and Brian Norris, who had won the team’s singles slots during an all-team battle royal last week, each dropped their first match, came roaring back to win their second, then were eliminated in their second loser-out match.
While the results weren’t quite what Stange might have hoped for, he does have some huge positives to look back upon. Boasting his biggest roster, by far, this season, he will lose only two seniors — Lamb and Wehrman — while retaining a huge core group that showed amazing improvement as the season played out.
“One realization I had right when I realized the season was over — and that always comes abruptly — is that even though this is the first time in years I have failed to qualify anyone for quads, this was truly one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve ever had,” Stange said. “We had so much new blood out there and the boys all improved over the course of the season.
“We lost often but it didn’t effect the mood badly,” he added. “My boys were top shelf all the way and I can’t wait to get back at it next season.”
Like every season, though, he will have to adjust to the loss of players who have been with him for years.
“It’s sad to see Nate and Ben W. part from us,” Stange said. “Those two gentlemen have been nothing short of amazing to me.
“Nate is a magician on the court and Ben has the most solid work ethic since Connor Tasoff,” he added. “They’ve given years to the program and have influenced many younger players in a positive way.”
Complete results:
Singles:
Brian Norris lost to Sean Hills (Friday Harbor) 6-2, 6-2.
Norris beat Christopher Pyles (Meridian) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Norris lost to Doc Vendiola (Lummi) 6-1, 6-1.
Sebastian Davis lost to Vendiola 6-4, 6-0.
Davis beat Kerry Wang (Friday Harbor) 6-2, 6-1.
Davis lost to Hills 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles:
Nathan Lamb/Aaron Curtin lost to Mitchell Hughes/Charley Stelling (South Whidbey) 6-2, 7-6(7-5).
Ben Etzell/Jason Knoll lost to Jonathan Petersen/Taylor Simmons (South Whidbey) 7-5, 6-0.
Lamb/Curtin beat Etzell/Knoll.
Coupeville Sports 