Head Coach Ken Hamilton has the GHS tennis program running on all cylinders right now, building on the 6A state championship won by the Bulldogs last season. Despite losing some of his top players to graduation, the returning core of this year’s group is proving itself worthy of the coach’s confidence.

Though most of his current players are inexperienced in match play, Hamilton says he’s encouraged at their improvement. "There is no substitute for playing against opponents you do not know,” said the coach. With each win and loss, every player learns something.

“Moving on the court and being aggressive in doubles is critical in order to compete at this level, and those who understand this are getting better much faster than those who don’t,” said the coach.

“Both boys doubles teams are getting better, especially Austin Shown and Eli Butler,” added Hamilton. “Amber Alzufari has improved her net play tremendously and it shows in the results of her doubles team."

This past Tuesday Greenwood traveled to Russellville for a series of matches that were ultimately interrupted by rain. With some players sidelined by illness, the Cyclones and Lady Cyclones lost every match to Greenwood.

In girls varsity action, senior Lindsay Gills and sophomore Olivia Gaston easily won their singles matches, both 8-0. The doubles team of sophomores Abigail Woodring and Madie Pelt lost only one game, winning 8-1.

The #2 doubles team of junior Amber Alzufari and sophomore Katelyn Baily also won easily, 8-0. In girls junior varsity play, freshman Sarah Beshears and sophomore Abbie Rudder won 6-0.

For the Bulldogs, senior Woody Woodring and junior Kenny Sweeney easily won their singles matches, while the doubles teams of sophomore Eli Butler and junior Auston Shown and freshmen Zackery Beshears and Jonathan Mitchell won 8-4 and 8-1, respectively. Mitchell also won 6-2 in a junior varsity singles match.

The remaining matches were cut short due to the rain, but Russellville visits Greenwood September 21st for a rematch.

On Monday, Greenwood took on the defending girls 6A state champions, meeting Mountain Home in non-conference play at Arkansas Tech University. Last year's state runner up, Olivia Gaston, lost to last year's singles champion, Emily Heide, 3-8, before defeating a second opponent, 8-0. Lindsay Gills won 8-4 before also losing to Heide, 2-8.

In doubles action, Abigail Woodring and Madie Pelt lost 0-8 before winning their second match, 8-5. The #2 doubles duo of Alzufari and Bailey lost both of their matches, 4-8 and 2-8. Overall, Mountain home edged Greenwood 5-3 in girls plays.

In boy's action, Woody Woodring won 8-5 and 8-2. Kenny Sweeney played perhaps his best singles match of the year, winning 8-3, before losing a second match, 2-8.
Butler and Shown lost 3-8 in their doubles opener, but won their second match, 8-1. Beshears and Mitchell came from behind to win their match, 9-8, in a tiebreaker.

On September 5th, the GHS netters participated in a three-way match with Lake Hamilton and Siloam Springs, both conference opponents, at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

The Lady Bulldogs won all four of their varsity matches against the Lady Wolves, losing just four games in the process. The Bulldogs split with Lake Hamilton in singles play, with Woodring winning 8-2 and Sweeney losing 8-4. Both GHS boys doubles teams lost by identical scores of 4-8.

Against Siloam Springs, Woodring lost a hard fought and long battle in a tiebreaker, 8-9, finishing under the lights. Kenny Sweeney won his match, 8-4. Greenwood’s #1 doubles team (Butler/Shown) lost 1-8, and Siloam Springs did not have a #2 team.

In girls singles, Gaston and Gills both won 8-0, as did the doubles teams of Woodring and Pelt, Alzufari and Bailey, and Acosta and Beshears. No Lady Bulldog lost a game.

In non-conference action on August 31st, Greenwood hosted Fort Smith Northside at the Greenwood community courts. Unfortunately, Lindsay Gills was ill and did not play for the Lady Bulldogs.

Olivia Gaston was also ill, but did attempt to play, losing 1-8 to an opponent she had beaten each time in three previous meetings. Abigail Woodring played #2 singles and lost 2-8.

Pelt and Woodring won in #1 doubles play (8-6), while #2 doubles partners Zufari and Bailey lost 1-8.
In girls junior varsity action, Acosta and Beshears won their doubles match, 9-7, while Rudder and Wisner lost 0-6. Also falling 0-6 in doubles were Greenwood’s Dones and Alzufari.

In boys #1 singles play Woody Woodring won 8-4, while #2 Kenny Sweeney lost 4-8. In boys doubles, Woodring and Sweeney combined to win 8-3, while Butler and Shown won 8-3, and the duo of Beshears and Mitchell lost 4-8.

The GHS boys won five of nine matches against Northside while the Lady Bulldogs won four of 11.

On August 28th Coach Hamilton took his teams to Arkansas Tech University once again, this time to open conference play against Benton.

For the Lady Bulldogs, Olivia Gaston won 8-4 in #1 singles play, and Lindsay Gills won 8-1 in #2 singles. Woodring and Pelt won their #1 doubles match, 8-0. Alzufari and Bailey also won in #2 doubles, 8-0.

In boys singles play, #1 Woody Woodring won 8-1, and #2 Kenny Sweeney won 8-2.

Greenwood duo Shown and Butler lost 1-8, while the #2 duo of Beshears and Mitchell lost 4-8.

Greenwood will travel to Hot Springs Lakeside next Tuesday, September 19th, to face Lakeside and Lake Hamilton, before hosting Russellville on Thursday the 21st.