Brock Edwards competes in No 1 singles in season opening tournament.

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington Crusader varsity boys tennis team opened the season by hosting a five-team tournament at Sellers Park Tuesday. Goddard Eisenhower won the event with 40 points. El Dorado followed with 20. Wellington and Kingman had 18 apiece and Augusta had 4.

The Crusaders have 11 players this year during Allen Keller’s fourth season as head coach.

“I am not very optimistic about this season,” Keller said. “We should be able to form one fairly competitive doubles team and one good singles player. But the skill level drops considerably after you get past the top three.”

Wellington has three returning state qualifiers from the Class 4A Tournament. Brock Edwards, a junior; Will Long, a junior; and Jaden Adams, a sophomore, all qualified for state in doubles.

On Tuesday:

•Edwards finished 1-3 in No. 1 singles. He lost to Goddard Ike’s Ian Farris 6-0; lost to El Dorado’s Kyle Thomas 6-4; lost to Kingman’s Jacob Messenger 6-0 and won by forfeit over Augusta.

•Adams finished 2-2 in No. 2 singles. He lost to Ike’s Luke Howard 6-0; defeated El Dorado’s Ashton King 6-3; lost to Kingman’s Davis Roe 6-0 and won by forfeit over Augusta.

•Will Long and James Hinman went 3-1 in No. 1 doubles and placed second out of five teams for the day.  The Wellington duo defeated Eldorado 6-2, lost to Eisenhower 6-2, defeated Kingman 6-4, and defeated Augusta 6-4.

• Jared Oathout and Reece Langford went 1-3 in No. 2 doubles. The Wellington duo lost Eldorado 7-6, lost to Goddard 6-1, defeated Kingman 6-1, and lost to Augusta 6-3.

Wellington varsity travels to Chaparral on Tuesday.

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