In his third year as coach of Lebanon’s boys tennis team, Jacob Butler has seen a “huge improvement” in multiple facets.
Once has been an increase in numbers, from 10 boys three years ago, when Butler took the reins to 16 this year.
“It’s been great,” Butler said of the increased participation.
He is aided on the sidelines by longtime assistant Hector Aquino, along with new addition Nicklas Osberg.
A majority of this year’s team are returnees, led by seniors Grant Basting, Silas Fitchett, Chase Herb, Hunter Jacobsen, Ryan Robinson and Landyn Whitney. Also back are junior Micah Zderad and sophomores Josh Allydice, Abram Fitchett, Benjamin Klinger and Nicholas McLoed.
Zderad, in his third year on the roster, is the Warriors’ No. 1 singles player, and Butler said the junior “has a great chance on the singles side if he puts some things together, late in the year, to make a run at state through the districts” after making a run to the second round of the district tournament.
Robinson and Jacobsen, who also reached the second round of last year’s districts as a doubles team, and Silas Fitchett are “good athletes” who, Butler predicted, are also going to be in the mix as the season progresses, particularly in doubles competition.
Newcomers are juniors Daniel Doerzapf, an exchange student from Germany who’s experienced in the game, and Alex Kolling; sophomores Kadyn Hull and Alvin Villa-Madrid; and freshman Colton Parrish.
Parrish also looks like a good prospect, particularly in doubles, he said.
“I think we might be able to shake some things up and really play well. I’m really excited with all the boys that we’ve got and the returnees and to see what they can do.”
The Mid-Willamette Conference is never short on tennis talent and Butler said he expects the Corvallis schools and West Albany to be “tough,” along with McKay. “South (Albany) has been pretty good the last few years,” he added.
Crescent Valley’s Richard Wang won the individual state championship last year as a senior.
“They’re always well-coached,” he said of those schools. “It’s always a battle and a grind in our league.”
Lebanon came into this week 1-2-1 after a 5-3 season-opening win over Philomath on March 17 and losses to McDaniel (7-1) and Cascade (7-1) last week.
Herb and Silas Fitchett battled to a No. 2 doubles win over McDaniel on April 3, 3-6. 6-4, 10-7, and Doerzapf and McLoed scored the Warriors only team point over Cascade on April 1 with a 7–6, 3-6, 10-5 doubles victory.
Whitney and Klinger were winners in singles against Stayton, while Zderad fell to Stayton senior Zachary Flett in three sets, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
Silas Fitchett and Allydice were winners in doubles, as were Grant Basting and Abram Fitchett.
March 19 4-4 tie
Against Philomath on March 17, Zderad defeated the Warriors’ Lane Schell 6-1, 6-0, while Whitney, Silas Fitchett and Doerzapf all went three sets in singles losses.
Jacobsen and Robinson (6-2, 6-2), and Klinger and Allydice (6-0, 6-0) both won their doubles matches, the only two competed.
The Warriors host home matches the next two weeks, Woodburn on Thursday, April 9, and Silverton on April 16, then host Central on April 28 and finish the regular season against South Albany at home on May 5.