March 19, 2024

Ehrhardt earns 300th career victory

Clarke splits with Saydel in season opener

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Clarke split with Saydel in its tennis season opener on April 2, but the boys’ victory over the Eagles was all it took for head coach Jeff Ehrhardt to reach a career milestone.

With the Indians’ 7-2 home victory over Saydel, Ehrhardt earned his 300th career tennis meet victory.

“I was proud to see how the boys came out and took it to Saydel to get my 300th win,” Ehrhardt said. “I feel fortunate that my oldest son Jason was part of my 200th win and my youngest son Taylor helped me win my 300th. I feel lucky to have had so many great young men and women play tennis for me over the years. They were great citizens, as well as athletes. They have set the bar high for future tennis players at Clarke.”

Clarke got out to a good start toward giving Ehrhardt his 300th win, taking two of the three varsity doubles matches.

Trevor Kirkpatrick and Taylor Ehrhardt picked up an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles against Saydel’s Andrew Smith and Max Kayser. Terence Havlik and Billy Otto won 8-2 over Saydel’s Dalton Silver and Viral Patel.

The lone doubles loss came at No. 1 doubles, where Ali Aly and Reed Morris fell 8-3 to Joe Smith and Jacob Philipsen.

Clarke dominated the singles matches, going 5-1 in singles play.

Aly scored an 8-4 win over Smith at No. 1 singles, as Morris picked up an 8-5 win over Philipsen at No. 2 singles.

Kirkpatrick was also an 8-5 winner at No. 3 singles, besting Smith. Ehrhardt won 8-6 over Kayser at No. 4 singles.

Havlik suffered the only loss of day in singles play for the Indians, falling 8-5 to Silver. Otto closed things out with an 8-5 win over Patel at No. 6 singles.

In girls play at Saydel, a mostly new Clarke lineup was swept by the Eagles, losing 9-0.

Senior Dania Echeveste had the closest match, falling 8-6 at No. 2 singles to Sydney Samples. Sophomore Sydnee Redman lost 8-2 at No. 1 singles.

Sofia Contreras, Katie VanGundy, Lexy Carson and Brittany Beckett each lost 8-1 in singles play.

Echeveste and Contreras lost 8-1 at No. 1 doubles to MaKenzie Carter and Melanie Gustafson.

The doubles teams of Redman and Carson, as well as VanGundy and Beckett each lost 8-2.

“The girls were overwhelmed by a senior-led Saydel team,” Ehrhardt said. “Our inexperience showed the first night out. We were nervous with five new girls in the starting lineup. We will get better with every match we play and be a contending team by the end of the season.”

Clarke returns to action today against Centerville, with the boys at home and the girls on the road. Play begins at 4:30 p.m.