by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Conway Springs girls won the Wellington Invitational while the Crusaders placed second at the season opening tennis meet at Sellers Park Tuesday afternoon.

Conway Springs won the match with 22 points. Wellington finished second with 16. Buhler had 14 and Goddard Ike had 8.

The Cardinals finished first by sweeping both No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Wellington scored the bulk of its points in the doubles division. No. 1 doubles team Ryleigh Buck and Madison Adams won two of three, while Maggie Fink and McKenna Adams swept No. 2 doubles.

Madi Adams, one half of the Buck/M. Adams duo, helped pick up 2-of-3 victories.

In off-the-court news Peyton Adams has been cleared to play tennis and will slowly be worked into the lineup, sources say.

“I was happy with the first meet,” said Brian Aufdengarten, Wellington head girls tennis coach. “We actually split with Conway Springs as a team. We have more work but the potential is there.” 

In No. 1 doubles, Buck/Adams would beat Daugherty/Williams of Goddard Ike 8-3, and JulieAnn Winter/Brittany Pauly of Conway Springs 8-5. They incurred a loss to Steffen/Nachtigal of Buhler 8-2.

“Madison and Ryleigh were really good,” Aufdengarten said. “They beat a tough Goddard team and a really good Conway Springs team that took third at state last year in 3A.”

The Buhler team also finished third at state in 4A in 2013.

At No. 2 doubles, Fink and Mc. Adams would sweep Stutzman/Kane of Goddard Ike 8-1, Mann/Martin of Buhler 8-1, and Kalie Jones/Erica Ebenkamp of Conway Springs 8-5.

Senior Maggie Fink helped the No. 2 doubles team to a 3-0 mark Tuesday.

“Those two have a chance to be a really good team,” Aufdengarten said. “They beat a Conway Springs team that finished ninth at state last season.

“Both doubles will get better, but showed us what they are capable of.

Auni Williams went 0-3, losing to Maddie Watson of Goddard Ike 8-6, Cece Robinson of Conway Springs 8-4 and Micheala Esau of Buhler 8-6.

“She battled so hard at No. 1 singles,” Aufdengarten said. “She led in every match and came up just short in each but showed us how close she is.”

Madison Lewellen went 2 of 3 for Wellington. She beat Riley Wedal of Goddard Ike 8-7(7-5), defeated Addie White of Buhler 8-1, and lost to Sam Koch of Conway Springs 8-2.

“Madison did really well also,” Aufdengarten said. “She got tired by her last match, but she usually plays doubles. But her doubles partner can’t play this year.”

Overall, Aufdengarten said this was a good first meet. Conway Springs is ranked third in 3A and Buhler sixth in 4A.

“We actually split with Conway Springs as a team,” Aufdengarten said.