Port Angeles tennis players Michael Soule, Reef Gelder and Damon Gundersen all qualified to play at the 2A state boys tennis tournament in May 2022. (Courtesy photo)

Port Angeles tennis players Michael Soule, Reef Gelder and Damon Gundersen all qualified to play at the 2A state boys tennis tournament in May 2022. (Courtesy photo)

PREP TENNIS: Sequim and Port Angeles to send four to state tournament next spring

BREMERTON — Port Angeles will send a singles player and a doubles team to the boys state tennis tournament in the spring after punching their tickets at the West Central District III tournament Friday.

Reef Gelder went 3-2 over the course of the tournament to qualify for state as a No. 6 seed. Coach Brian Gundersen said Gelder won behind the strength of his ground strokes and serving.

“Reef played extremely well at districts. He played some very strong competition and more than held his own,” Gundersen said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Meanwhile, Sequim’s Garrett Little, the Olympic League singles champion, made it to the district semifinals after winning his first two matches. He lost in the semis and ended up qualifying to state as a No. 4 seed. He lost a close match (7-5, 6-4) to Oscar Grados of Fife in the third/fourth-place match to finish fourth.

The Roughriders’ duo of Michael Soule and Damon Gundersen also went 3-2 at district, two of which went to tiebreakers. They lost one tiebreaker to an Enumclaw team 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 (10-6), but they won a lengthy loser-out tiebreaker to a Bremerton team that sent the Port Angeles duo to state. Soule and Gundersen won the Bremerton match 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (11-9).

“Damon and Mike nearly gave me a heart-attack on many occasions during this tournament, but found a way to win the biggest points. I couldn’t be prouder of all three boys and am looking forward to the opportunity to compete this spring,” said coach Gundersen.

Sequim’s Connor Bear won a match at district but was not able to qualify for state.

The state tennis tournament is held in May.

More in Sports

Port Angeles baseball
PREP BASEBALL: Port Angeles’ bats erupt in 14-3 win over Orting

The Port Angeles baseball team has been relying heavily upon… Continue reading

Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News 
East Jefferson’s Alan Morales dribbles while defended by Life Christian’s Isaiah Ssemmanda at Memorial Field on Thursday.
PREP ROUNDUP: East Jefferson plays complete game in win over Life Christian

East Jefferson controlled the ball, peppered the opposition’s goal… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Trae Hanan hits a single to begin a big rally in the sixth inning against Olympic on Tuesday. Port Angeles won 5-2, then dropped an eight-inning game 6-5 to Bainbridge later in the night. (Pierre LaBossiere/for Peninsula Daily News)
PREP BASEBALL: Port Angeles splits unusual three-team doubleheader

While the Port Angeles baseball team sometimes struggles to… Continue reading

PREP TRACK AND FIELD: Forks girls first at home meet

Forks sprinters Noah Foster and Erika Williams were the stars… Continue reading

Port Angeles Roughriders
PREP SOFTBALL: Roughriders win behind clutch hitting, pitching in 7th inning

The Port Angeles softball team is crushing teams it should… Continue reading

Forks Spartans
PREP SPORTS: Forks boys soccer earns win over Tenino on PKs

The Forks soccer team, twice down by a goal, scored… Continue reading