The Greenwood High School tennis teams returned to action at home on September 10th against Russellville after two weeks away from competition. Their last previous match was on August 25th, the day after school opened, and they will have been off for another seven days before their next scheduled match this coming Thursday, September 17th, at home against Alma.
Between the rainy weather and Covid-19 concerns, both GHS teams have experienced scheduling issues since the season began back on August 13th. Several matches have been cancelled, or postponed and rescheduled, or been moved to alternate sites.
New Head Coach Dexter Pearcy recently put out a revised slate of matches for the remainder of the regular season, ending with the 5A West conference tournament at Russellville on the 28th and 29th.
Against Russellville on the 10th, the Lady Bulldogs’ varsity squad dropped three of four matches, while the GHS boys split their four matches with the Cyclones.
In girls’ singles play, Greenwood junior Chaise Hanna lost 0-8 and freshman Isabella King lost 2-8. The GHS doubles duo of senior Sarah Beshears and junior Rebecca Harris won their match, 8-6. Sophomores Mackenzie Cannon and Lakyn Forester surrendered their doubles match, 5-8.
In junior varsity girls’ play, Greenwood made a clean sweep of three matches, starting with sophomore Anna Spence winning her singles contest, 6-4. Doubles partners Kennedy Holland, a junior, and freshman Lydiah Belue won their outing, 6-1. The team of freshman Emma Wirth and sophomore Katlyn Johnson also won, 7-5.
In boys’ varsity play the Bulldogs split their singles and doubles matches with the Cyclones. Senior Zack Beshears won his solo match, 8-6, while teammate Brendon Hoskyn, a sophomore, lost a close one, 6-8.
In boys’ doubles competition, Greenwood’s due of senior Jonathan Mitchell and freshman J.J. Acosta won their match going away, 8-0. The GHS team of senior Micah Belue and sophomore Grayson Vaughn lost their doubles match, 3-8. In junior varsity boys’ play, junior Alex Chanthavong and sophomore Conner Jones teamed up for a 6-4 victory.
Still ahead for the GHS netters is this Thursday’s home tilt with Alma and next week’s trip to the University of the Ozarks at Clarksville to face both Greenbrier and Vilonia on the 21st. The following day Greenwood will host Siloam Springs, then welcome Fort Smith Northside on the 24th. Lastly, there is a match scheduled at Van Buren on the 28th, but that appears to be conflict with the conference tournament, though details of the tournament are yet to be finalized and released.