McCook girls dust foes and conquer all elements

Friday, May 13, 2022
Freshman Izzy Clause (above) keeps her focus on serving even as a massive cloud of dirt descended upon McCook’s final home tennis dual this season against Holdrege Thursday afternoon. Winds whipping to more than 40 miles per hour also caused some problems, but junior Abbie Johnson (above) teamed with Clause for one more win over those visiting Dusters.
R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Emblazen across McCook’s tennis team poster are the words “Be Fierce” along with players standing ready for any gale-force challenge this spring.

Could any pre-season forecast ever be proven more accurate?

The Holdrege Dusters were a perfect final home opponent Tuesday afternoon.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Just as McCook closed on another clean sweep, a monstrous cloud of brown dirt suddenly arose in the west and descended upon everyone on or around those home tennis courts.

That’s not even mentioning the 40-mile wind gusts or suddenly dropping temperatures.

Just another day for 2022 McCook girls tennis.

Junior Abbie Johnson and freshman Izzy Clause still fired winning shots past their Duster opponents. Clause even seemed to perfectly time a few shots just when those winds briefly subsided.

They finished a 6-1, 6-2 win and another delightful dual season (record-wise, at least) for McCook Bison tennis.

“It was great to finish the regular season at home,” coach Matt Wiemers said. “The girls had a solid day on the courts despite the wide variety of weather we encountered from heat to rain to wind and a dust storm.”

Some rain and nearby lightning flashes disrupted Thursday’s first dual vs. Adams Central.

Senior No. 1 Joslyn Hammond still didn’t lose a game (6-0, 6-0).

Junior No. 2 singles Carsyn Craig scored her own 6-0 win along with 6-2.

Senior Carley Peters and junior Jaci Meyers joined the domination, winning 6-1, 6-0.

Nothing changed through the Holdrege dual where these four Bison only faced one set closer than 6-2.

Coach Wiemers offered some more remarks about his varsity lineup now less than one week before the Class B state tournament in Lincoln.

“Joslyn and Carsyn played well cruising to wins in singles play. Joslyn will take a 29-8 record into the state tournament next week and should earn herself a seed.

Carsyn will enter state with a 19-5 record and should put her in contention for a seed as well.

Abbie and Izzy split their doubles matches. They got off to a good start against Adams Central taking the first set 6-3. Then Adams Central settled in and took a tightly contested second set 6-4.

In the third set, Adams Central took an early lead and never relinquished it.

The girls will carry a 32-5 record into the tournament and have played themselves into a great chance to earn a seed.

Carley and Jaci continued their win streak and picked up two more wins. They had to fight and battle against Adams Central, but were able to pull out a straight set win in a second set tie-break score.

Against Holdrege they were clicking and played well together. It was nice to see them come back with focus and dominate their match. They will take a 23-2 record into state and should also have an opportunity to be seeded.

The team finishes the regular season with an impressive 12-2 duel record and another conference championship, running it to four straight.”

Varsity results from a weather-disrupted McCook girls’ home tennis triangular on Thursday.

McCook 4, Holdrege 0

No. 1 singles: Joslyn Hammond, MC, won 6-0, 6-0 over C. Hudson, HOLD; No. 2 singles: Carsyn Craig, MC, won 6-0, 6-2 over M. Wright, HOLD.

No. 1 doubles: Abbie Johnson/Izzy Clause, MC, won 6-1, 6-2 over S. Nelson/G. Maloley, HOLD; No. 2 doubles: Carley Peters/Jaci Meyers, MC, won 6-1, 6-0 over A. Ptacnik/L. Wright, HOLD.

McCook 3, Adams Central 1

No. 1 singles: Joslyn Hammond, MC, won 6-1, 6-0 over E. Heyser, Adams Central; No. 2 singles: Carsyn Craig, MC, won 6-0, 6-2 over H. Crawford, HAC.

No. 1 doubles: E. Marker/B. Stroh, HAC, won 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 over Abbie Johnson/Izzy Clause, MC; No. 2 doubles: Carley Peters/Jaci Meyers, MC, won 6-2, 7-6 (7-0) over C. Mucklow/M. McDonald, HAC.

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