In a much-anticipated rivalry showdown, the Bonney Lake Panthers boys tennis team took the short trip down the hill to face off against the Sumner Spartans. It marked the first time in years that the Panthers played on Sumner’s newly resurfaced courts, and from a fan’s perspective, the purple and green courts popped vibrantly against the autumn backdrop, drawing comparisons to the iconic University of Washington courts.
While Sumner’s 2023 campaign was nothing short of dominance—undefeated in league play, capped with their #1 doubles team finishing third in state—this year told a different story. With the entire varsity squad graduated, 2024 became a rebuilding season for the Spartans. But despite this shift, Sumner’s roster remained surprisingly deep. As the sun set over Sumner, the Panthers and Spartans filled the four courts, with fans cheering on every point.
In the end, the Spartans proved too much for Bonney Lake, taking the match 4-1. The lone bright spot for the Panthers came from their standout #1 singles player, Gavin Orozco. Having battled illness this week, Orozco entered the match with an impressive 9-0 record and looked poised to extend his undefeated run. He faced Caden Quesinberry, and while Quesinberry showed grit, it was Orozco’s day. Dominating with precision and poise, Orozco notched a 6-1, 6-2 victory, improving to a perfect 10-0.
Bonney Lake’s #2 singles player, Evan Lane, faced a stiffer challenge in Ryder Peterson. Peterson, emblematic of Sumner’s depth, overwhelmed Lane with powerful baseline play, securing a 6-1, 6-1 win to even the match at 1-1.
The Panthers' #1 doubles team, Thomas Howard and Jarrett Sroka, couldn’t find their rhythm against Sumner’s Bradley Holland and Garrett Levenhagen. Holland and Levenhagen, exuding confidence from the opening serve, cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 victory. Sroka, returning to the court for the first time after a two-week illness, fought hard but couldn’t match the Spartans' relentless attack.
In the #2 doubles match, Bonney Lake’s Adam Quinto and Cameron Munsch faced Sumner’s Dylan Downing and Graeson Manning, who proved to be a buzz saw. Downing and Manning blitzed their way through the match, overpowering the Panthers duo 6-1, 6-0, clinching the overall match for Sumner.
With the Spartans up 3-1, the final match of the evening shifted the spotlight to Bonney Lake’s #3 doubles team. Jeremiah Mam and first-time varsity player Cameron Frey stepped up in the most exciting match of the night. Frey, called up from JV, showed no fear in his varsity debut. His fearless overheads and pinpoint volleys electrified the fans and kept the match tight. After losing the first set 2-6, Mam and Frey clawed their way back, taking the second set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-3). The third-set super tiebreaker had everyone on the edge of their seats, but despite the Panthers' valiant effort, Sumner edged out the 10-8 victory to secure the final match point.
The Panthers now sit at 2-5 on the season and will look to turn things around on senior night this Wednesday, October 2nd, as they host Graham-Kapowsin, one of the last-place teams in the league. With the energy of senior night festivities and home-court advantage, Bonney Lake hopes to rally for a much-needed win. The match starts at 3:30 p.m., and fans are encouraged to come out and cheer for the Panthers.
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