McCook tennis boys all high seeds entering state on Monday

LINCOLN, Neb. —

Extra! Extra! Let’s start repeating ourselves to get in the mood for McCook’s quest at a second consecutive Class B boys tennis team championship next week.

Sure, it’s Friday Friday but good old Monday-Monday will be here before we know it.

That’s when the Bison take to those Lincoln Woods Tennis Center courts where they ran away with a historic first boys state tennis championship one year ago.

No fewer than five of the six Bison state players are seeded No. 5 or higher again this fall, and new No. 2 singles player Jonny Frank holds a No. 9 spot.

Take a look at who the Bison will be facing beginning Monday-Monday-glorious Monday morning.

No. 1 singles

Some might think senior Nathaniel Miller (33-5 record) would be top two since he reached the state finals in 2022.

Who cares.

Miller is No. 3 and still earned a first-round bye. He’ll meet either Elkhorn’s Lawson Clevenger or Bohden Hess from Cornerstone Christian.

He’s still lined to play No. 2 Eli Shada from Elkhorn North in Tuesday’s semifinals — Elkhorn North being a leading favorite to dethrone McCook.

No. 2 singles

Frank (24-9 record) takes the No. 9 spot where he’ll open in the morning against Brace Anderson from Omaha Gross Catholic.

He’d then play either No. 8 Austin Vontz of Adams Central (21-10) or Alliance’s Termaine Red Bear. All that could lead to a late Monday quarterfinal showdown with No. 1 Moritz Kaufman of Hastings (18-1).

No. 1 doubles

Seniors Lincoln Michaelis and Kaiden Porter (27-10) are powerful state-pressure tested forces as part of last year’s Class B title.

They are seeded No. 5 in this top doubles tournament and open against Alliance’s Landyn Banstiter/Timothy Richey combination.

If they win as expected, next would likely be No. 12 Kaden Heiden and Collin Kotschwar of the York Dukes.

Waverly’s Isaac Clarke and Grey Klucas (25-6) could set up that huge quarterfinal with MHS.

No. 2 doubles

McCook’s other new doubles team this fall of senior Caleb Shaw and junior Reid Loop blended into a Class B No. 4 state seed at 26-8.

They just missed a bye and instead open with Omaha Roncalli’s Edward Lon Djon/Gavin Barfield Monday morning. They’d advance into a lilely second-round familiar foe in No. 5 Will Hogeland and Tate Redinger of Kearney Catholic (31-9).