GILLETTE – The Rock Springs Tigers had a good opening round at the Wyoming State Tennis Championships but lost several close matches in the quarterfinals. As a team, the Tigers are tied for 12th after the first day of play.

Although the Tigers do not have anyone alive in the chase for an individual championship, most are still alive in the consolation brackets. The Tigers had a singles player and two doubles teams win in the opening round.

No. 1 Singles

John Prevedel lost both his matches on Thursday. He fell to Sheridan’s Quinton Suska 6-0, 6-1, and Powell’s Rhett Pimentel, 6-0, 6-3.

No. 2 Singles

Kelby Kramer advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over Brooks Bradford from Jackson, 6-1 and 6-1. Against Powell’s Jesse Brown, Kramer dropped a close first set 6-4. He fell in the second by a final of 6-2. He will face Zach Richards of Kelly Walsh to start play on Friday.

No. 1 Doubles

The team of Nathan Baldwin and Jake Rawson advanced to the quarters with a three-set win over Powell’s Sheets and Jacobsen. After dropping the first set, 6-4, the Tigers would respond taking the next two sets, 6-4 and 6-2. In the quarters, Rock Springs faced Cody’s Osterland  and Lasko, who won in straight sets to open. It would be Cody in the closest match of the day. After losing the first set by a break, 7-5, Rawson and Baldwin returned the favor with a 7-5 win in the second. Cody would pull ahead in the end to take the final set 6-3.  The Tigers will take on Cheyenne Central to open on Friday.

No. 2 Doubles

The Tiger team of Fletcher Wadsworth and Cole Weidle beat the team of Connell  and Blakemore from Kelly Walsh in straight sets, 6-0 and 6-4. Gillette’s Swan  and Larson, who had a bye in the first round, was up next for Rock Springs. Wadsworth and Weidle fell in straight sets. They will face Cheyenne East’s Allen and Gerdes to open play Friday.

No. 3 Doubles

The team of Deklyn Searle and Aaron Goldman lost to Sheridan in a battle to open the state tournament. After dropping the first set 6-1, Searle and Goldman responded by not losing a game and evening the match with a 6-0 win. Sheridan won the key points in the final set to advance, 6-3. Searle and Goldman received a bye in the first round of the consolation bracket. They will open with Natrona on Friday.