Mexico boys tennis went into the unknown on Friday.

Mexico at Mexico Varsity Invitational Photo Gallery

For more than 20 years, the Mexico boys haven’t hosted a tournament until the Mexico Varsity Invitational at the Fairgrounds Park Netplex, according to head coach Tony Senor, and the Bulldogs also faced some schools it usually doesn’t see. Still, Brendan McKeown finished second in No. 1 singles, and Boston Davolt was third in No. 2 singles to both medal for Mexico.

Senor said this tournament expanded the competition Mexico will see this year as the usual North Central Missouri Conference foes Moberly and Fulton did appear but so did Lafayette (Wildwood) and Potosi. Potosi traveled over two and half hours, and Lafayette is a Class 3 school that Mexico obviously doesn’t see often.

“This tournament was designed to try to get some schools that we would never see,” Senor said. “We got to accomplish that.”

McKeown picked up an important conference victory over Moberly No. 1 Ryan O’ Loughlin, who qualified for state in doubles last year, and lost 8-5 when Lafayette’s No. 2 player Hudson Kohler came back to win. The seventh-place state medalist from a year ago is looking good, Senor said, after going 3-1 on the day.

“We’re starting to see Brendan come into form at the right time of the year,” Senor said. “Playing good competition is going to help with that.”

Davolt finished 2-2 in his bracket, which involved him taking an 8-5 loss to the eventual winner from Lafayette, Krish Roy.

“Boston has been battling sickness here and there and has had limited court time because of that,” Senor said. “Boston will play to the very last point in the very last game.”

Senor said his No. 1 doubles pairing of Brixton Goerne and Carter Blackburn went 0-4 but faced the toughest bracket of the day. He said some schools had their No. 1 or No. 2 singles players in the mix so he liked what effect this could have on the first-time pairing.

“Some of those doubles matches went on for a very long time, and they were very competitive,” Senor said. “Brixton and Carter battle and don’t give up.”

Mexico’s No. 2 pairing Trevor Wright and Skylar Shaw are also a first-time pairing, and Shaw played his first varsity tournament on Friday. They finished 0-4.

“They actually complement each other well,” Senor said. “Skylar’s good at the net, and Trevor is just good overall.”

Mexico has a 4 p.m. Friday home dual against district foe Lutheran St. Charles.