TCA defeats SW Christian

The Trinity Christian Academy tennis team posted a 12-4 victory against Southwest Christian recently on the courts at Mira Vista. Every member of the team won at least one match.

“Thanks to Micah Harless and Meredith Cobble, I am now probably the only coach in the area with an undefeated record in mixed doubles,” said new TCA tennis coach Carl Pollak with a chuckle, noting that the duo are 1-0.

Pollak called the girls singles match between Carson Blauser and her opponent five-star rated and the match of the day.

Blauser started off behind 0-4, but soon caught up. She then fell behind again 4-7.

“Carson’s warrior spirit decided it was time to get back on the road to victory,” Pollak said.

Blauser again rallied and tied the match at 7-7. She followed that momentum to two more wins and the 9-7 match victory, which Pollak referenced as exhibiting “the tenacity of a wolverine that doesn’t care how big or powerful the opponent is. That is what you mean by playing with heart and sheer will power. It was an incredible match and extremely entertaining to watch.”

Bo Blauser lost a tight boys singles match to an opponent who also made it to the semifinals at state last year. Teegan Thomas won his singles match with only minor resistance. 

As if that wasn’t enough, he decided to take a swim through a doubles match with John Chrane. That ended in an additional victory for Thomas and a road to redemption victory for Chrane.

Chrane and Harless lost a very close up-and-down doubles match.

“It ended up eerily close to a whoever-has-the-ball-last-wins battle,” Pollak said.

Meredith Cobble not only put a mixed doubles victory in her pocket, but had earlier notched a resounding doubles victory with McKenna Sims.

Pollak joked that Sims was “voluntold” to play a second match, but in singles. She won with ease, allowing her opponent to win just a single game. 

Anna Gasowski had asked to play singles and was granted her wish.  This bold strategy paid off with a victory. Later, she and Gracie Bruner dropped a doubles match as they ran out of gas in the heat. 

“The maximum effort, win or lose, is what matters here,” Pollak said.

Earlier, Bruner had teamed with freshman Lilly Roberson in doubles and emerged easily victorious. Later in the day, Roberson fell in a doubles match that Pollak said was much closer than the score indicated.

“She continues to exhibit excellent mechanics and I look forward to her return next year,” he said.

Jordan and Lauren Nachlinger patiently waited to play and sometimes good things are worth waiting for. They quickly dispatched their opponents.

“I am not sure I even saw them sweat,” Pollak said. “A couple of cool cucumber twin sisters there.”

Macy Prestwood and Faith Rodgers cruised through two doubles matches with the greatest of ease. They only lost one game in two matches. 

Caroline Thompson and Giuliana Marcantonio were the last doubles to hit the court. Almost as soon as they got on the court, they were walking off the court with a win.

“Not bad for a couple of players that only came out to play about three weeks ago,” Pollak noted. “The shutout is kind of like extra whip cream on your banana split.”