HIGH SCHOOL

Tennis roundup: Nesbit wins boys singles title

Adam Overstreet and Jordan Paul reach finals in boys doubles Saturday, as do Wilson Murrill and Grant Fritschy

Matt Hollinshead
Carlsbad Current-Argus

CARLSBAD – Carlsbad boys tennis player Riley Nesbit made the most of his chance to play at home, beating El Paso Austin’s Abraham Ramirez in the boys singles sixth flight championship match (6-4, 6-2) Friday at the Carlsbad Invitational.

“It was really tough. I had to focus on my match and just push through,” Nesbit said.

Nesbit said his path to winning his singles title was difficult because the opponents he faced served “pretty fast” and that all he could do was “block them back.”

But he ended the day on top, also beating Lovington’s Juan Martinez (6-0, 6-0) and Goddard’s Glenn Cunningham (6-0, 6-0) to reach the title match against Ramirez.

Despite how Friday ended, Ramirez made up for it alongside his Austin doubles partner Erik Alarcon on Saturday. The Panthers duo beat Carlsbad’s Wilson Murrill and Grant Fritschy (6-2, 6-3) to win the boys doubles third flight championship.

Ramirez said he felt accomplished getting that doubles title after losing to Nesbit in singles Friday.

“I had been doubting myself as a player recently. That doubles match, I’m not going to lie, it was pretty intimidating. My partner stuck through it, and so did I,” Ramirez said. “It’s really nice playing people that you’re not familiar with.”

Carlsbad’s Adam Overstreet and Jordan Paul lost to Will McDermott and Ian Watson of St. Michael’s (6-3, 6-0) in the boys doubles first flight finals.

Girls singles

Carlsbad’s Tyra Murrill reached the finals in the second flight, but lost to Roswell’s Lupe Ortega 6-2, 6-2.

Cavegirls eighth grader Alexa Sowers serves the ball during consolation singles play Friday.

Improvements

Going from last weekend’s El Paso Austin/Santa Teresa Invitational to now, Nesbit said the area Carlsbad’s improved in most across the board is its single play. Nesbit said Carlsbad’s serves and strokes on the ball have gotten better since last weekend.

The Cavemen ended the tournament tied for first place alongside St. Michael's with 60 team points. El Paso Austin finished third with 35 team points and first in boys doubles with 21 doubles points.

The Cavegirls came in fifth place overall with 19 team points. Goddard won the girls tournament with 59 team points.

Carlsbad will participate in the Albuquerque Academy tournament next Friday and Saturday.

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518.