Mexico cruises to 8-1 Senior Night win vs Columbia Independent

Mexico tennis’ three seniors are making up for lost time.

Mexico Boys Tennis Senior Night Photo Gallery

Declan Gleeson and Zeven Ruiz lost the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Jackson Lamb spent his first two years with the golf team, but each one was honored for Senior Night before the Bulldogs defeated Columbia Independent 8-1.

“This was a great match for our seniors to go out on,” head coach Tony Senor said. “All three will be missed because of their good attitude, leadership skills and talent on the courts. We wish them luck in where they go next.”

Mexico (5-9) started the match up 2-0 due to the low numbers by Columbia Independent (2-10) and then tallied three shutout victories. Brendan McKeown and Gleeson won 10-0 as did McKeown and Camden Williams in singles. 

Lamb and Ruiz lost a close 10-8 match in doubles, but the Bulldogs picked up sufficient points in singles with victories from Gleeson at 10-8, Boston Davolt at 10-2 and Ruiz at 10-1. 

Mexico plays in the North Central Missouri Conference tournament and district tournament next week. The Bulldogs host the conference tournament on Thursday.

Missouri Military Academy solid in play, district conversation in 7-2 win vs Hannibal

Missouri Military Academy felt it was in good shape after defeating Troy Buchanan on Monday but felt even better on Thursday.

MMA vs Hannibal Photo Gallery

Troy Buchanan had defeated several of the Colonels’ district foes but lost 5-4 to Hannibal earlier in the season. MMA had its chance at Hannibal at home and defeated the Pirates 7-2, extending its winning streak to six matches after opening the season with a loss to Hickman.

“We played hard, focused and with a lot of positive energy,” head coach Brad Smith said. “With this win, we have a solid argument for the first seed for our new district.”

The Colonels swept the doubles matches, winning each match by at least a four-point margin. Gorka Yarte and Francisco De La Maza won 8-3, Patricio Bravo Knobloch and Samuel Way won 8-4, and Nathan Dempsey and Ernesto De La Maza won 8-1.

In singles, Yarte won 8-3, Way won a tight contest 9-7, Francisco De La Maza won 8-3 and Ernesto De La Maza won 8-2.

MMA plays Hannibal (8-10-1) again on Tuesday in the Hannibal Invitational, where it also plays Quincy Notre Dame and Troy Buchanan (5-12).

Bulldogs win 7-2 at rival Fulton despite shorthanded roster

Several Bulldogs stepped up with big stakes involved on Tuesday.

Mexico had a couple of players unavailable, including No. 2 Declan Gleeson, because of Quiz Bowl sectionals but won 7-2 at North Central Missouri Conference rival and district opponent Fulton (0-13, 0-5 NCMC) anyway. 

Senior Jackson Lamb won one of five singles matches for Mexico (4-9, 2-3 NCMC) by a score of 10-7 as head coach Tony Senor said he played a “complete singles match.” Senor said Zeven Ruiz provided another highlight by winning his singles match 11-10 via a tiebreaker, and Brendan McKeown and Boston Davolt won 10-4 in doubles. Other singles wins included McKeown at 10-1, Quaid Grubb at 10-5, Brixton Goerne at 10-2, and a doubles victory belonged to Grubb and Goerne at 10-2.

Colonels defeat Moberly 6-3, Way wins 50th

Missouri Military Academy won another tough road battle on Thursday while a cadet made history.

MMA defeated Moberly 6-3 despite losing the Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches and No. 1 doubles match. Samuel Way earned his 50th career varsity win a week after Nathan Dempsey won his 48th to tie a school record.

Head coach Brad Smith said Moberly (7-4) and the top of its lineup provided a nice challenge to MMA (5-1) with districts approaching. He said Temuulen Manlai stepped up when Francisco De La Maza had to sit out singles after being injured in doubles.

Manlai won his singles match 8-6, Way won his singles match 8-2, Dempsey won 8-0 and Ernesto De La Maza won a singles tiebreaker 9-8 (7-5). 

In doubles, Patricio Bravo Knobloch and Way won 8-4, and Dempsey and Ernesto De La Maza won 8-2.