As the sun broke through the clouds on a brisk day in Yelm, it seemed to bid the Bonney Lake Panthers boys tennis team a warm farewell in their final league match of the season. It was the Panthers' first-ever trip to Yelm, both teams new members of the SPSL 4A League this year, but all eyes were on Bonney Lake's #1 singles player, senior Gavin Orozco. Unbeaten all season, Orozco looked to make history in his last regular-season match—and he did not disappoint.
Facing Yelm’s #1 singles player, Donny Smith, Orozco knew what was at stake. With a perfect season on the line, the senior captain battled through early nerves and swiftly took control of the match. Orozco dominated from start to finish, winning 6-2, 6-0, and securing his place in the Bonney Lake history books as the first boys tennis player to go undefeated for an entire season. His 14-0 record not only etched his name in school lore but Orozco becomes the first Bonney Lake boys singles player to enter the SPSL League Tournament as the #1 seed—a testament to his talent, leadership, and the work he’s put in on and off the court. It was a fitting end to a remarkable campaign for the Panthers' captain, whose leadership anchored the team.
While Orozco’s heroics stole the headlines, Bonney Lake’s #3 doubles team of seniors Cameron Frey and Jacob Acosta followed closely behind with a commanding performance. Teamed up for the first time due to senior Holden Mann being out sick, Frey and Acosta didn’t miss a beat, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Yelm’s Josiah Leonard and Max Gonzalez. The duo’s chemistry on the court was palpable as they dominated every aspect of the match.
Over on court four, Bonney Lake’s #2 doubles team, seniors Adam Quinto and Jarrett Sroka, treated fans to a more lighthearted affair. The pair seemed to relish every moment of their final match together, mixing competitive focus with smiles and camaraderie. Facing Yelm’s Myles Myazor and Merrick Sumry, Quinto and Sroka never lost sight of the task at hand, winning 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets.
Perhaps the most thrilling match of the day came from Bonney Lake’s #1 doubles team, seniors Thomas Howard and Jeremiah Mam. In a back-and-forth battle that stretched to three sets, Howard and Mam faced off against Yelm’s Colby Ward and Miles Ackerman. The Panthers duo took the first set 6-4, dropped the second 3-6, but rallied to take the decisive third set 6-2. Their scrappy play and refusal to give up on impossible shots kept the crowd engaged and brought the match to an exciting finish.
In the final singles match of the day, sophomore Cameron Munsch—Bonney Lake’s only non-senior player—showed he was more than ready for the big stage. Taking on Yelm’s Nate Hunsley, Munsch battled through a two-hour marathon match that saw him win the first set 6-2, drop the second 3-6, and recover to dominate the third set 6-1. Munsch’s victory sealed the Panthers’ 5-0 sweep of Yelm and ensured the team ended their regular season on a high note.
With the regular season now behind them, the Panthers shift their focus to the SPSL League Tournament, scheduled for October 16th-18th at UPS. Bonney Lake will send three singles players and three doubles teams to compete, with the top eight finishers advancing to the District Tournament at Boeing Tennis Center on November 1st.
For the seniors, this match marked the end of an unforgettable four years on the Bonney Lake tennis courts. But with the postseason still ahead, there's more tennis left to play—and more memories to make. As they move on to the next chapter, they leave behind a legacy of teamwork, resilience, and, in Gavin Orozco’s case, perfection.
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