As the Bonney Lake Panthers boys tennis team traveled to Tacoma to take on old rivals, the Stadium Tigers, the stage was set for a picturesque afternoon of competition. The two teams, once familiar foes in the PCL 3A league, met again—but this time, in a non-league match, as the Panthers now find themselves navigating the tougher waters of the SPSL 4A division.
The magic of Stadium High School is undeniable. With its castle-like architecture that graced the backdrop of the 90’s rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You, and the stunning views of Commencement Bay from tennis courts perched atop a parking garage, it’s a setting that almost distracts from the match itself. But while the scenery was breathtaking, the result for Bonney Lake was not what they’d hoped for.
Seeking their first win of the season and eager to shake off a string of close losses, the Panthers came up short once again in a 2-3 defeat to the Tigers.
The Panthers placed their hopes in their undefeated captain, Gavin Orozco, at #1 singles, looking for a victory to anchor the team. Despite coming into the match under the weather, Orozco delivered, as he has all season, dispatching his opponent Justin Oh with authority, 6-3, 6-0. Orozco’s commanding performance provided a spark, but the Panthers still needed to find two more wins to clinch the match.
In #1 doubles, Thomas Howard and Jarrett Sroka added to that momentum with an exciting, back-and-forth battle against the Tigers' duo, Matthew Han and Romen Inaba. After dropping the first set 3-6, Howard and Sroka found their groove, evening the match with a 6-4 second set. The third set was a dramatic tiebreaker, with the Panthers trailing 1-5 before storming back to win 10-8. Final score: 3-6, 6-4, (10-8).
With Orozco and the #1 doubles team securing wins, Bonney Lake needed just one more to break through. However, their #2 singles player, Evan Lane, found himself up against a strong opponent in Campbell Duggan. Lane battled hard but ultimately fell 3-6, 4-6 in a well-contested match that could have gone either way.
At #2 doubles, the pairing of Jeremiah Mam and Cameron Munsch put up a valiant effort, taking their match to a second-set tiebreaker after dropping the first set 3-6 to Stadium’s Nate Shedd and Aidan Meas. The tiebreaker was intense, but Mam and Munsch couldn’t quite force a third set, losing 3-6, 7-6 (7-4).
The Panthers' final hope rested with their
#3 doubles team of Adam Quinto and Holden Mann. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find an answer to the consistent play of Greyson McDivitt and Ben Toews, dropping their match 2-6, 1-6 as Bonney Lake fell short, 2-3.
Despite the loss, the Panthers looked sharp in their new 2024 Panthers gear, a testament to the dedication of Chuck at Next Step Apparel, who worked tirelessly to get the uniforms delivered on short notice. Bonney Lake’s head coach expressed optimism, noting the team’s resilience and highlighting the strong performances of Orozco and the #1 doubles team.
The Panthers will regroup as they prepare for another rivalry matchup, this time in league play against Spanaway Lake. The two schools, who both moved into the SPSL 4A this season, will clash on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 3:30 p.m. in what promises to be another tightly contested match.
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