Less than two weeks after their first practices, the Powell High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams kicked off their regular seasons with four matches each. Both teams finished the weekend homestand 2-2.

Regardless of the outcomes, the match experience was beneficial for the Panthers.

“I’m always excited to get match experience for our kids,” head coach Joe Asay said. “No matter how much we practice, nothing can prepare an athlete for the match nerves.”

It was a rough start on the boys’ side, as they fell to Campbell County High School (of Gillette) in a 5-0 defeat on Thursday morning. The Panthers didn’t win a set in that match.

Later in the day, however, PHS earned its first win of the year against Thunder Basin (also of Gillette). Ethan Bartholomew and Logan Brown won their singles matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, and Kalin Hicswa and Wesley Preator won their No. 3 doubles match to secure the team win.

On Saturday, the Panthers rode their momentum and defeated Rock Springs 5-0. Four of the five points were won in two sets.

A 5-0 defeat against Green River, however, ended the weekend for the boys. Once again, the Panthers didn’t win a set in the loss.

Unlike the boys’ team, the girls’ squad began the weekend with a 3-2 win over Campbell County. The No. 2 doubles team of Whitney Hull/Chase Anderson and No. 3 doubles players Kaili Wisniewski and Lila Asay won their matches, and Sami Cole won at No. 2 singles to clinch the victory against the Camels.

The girls suffered their first loss on Thursday against Thunder Basin, falling 3-2. Cole and Hull/Anderson once again won their points, but the rest of the team was unable to win their matches.

On Saturday, the Panthers beat Rock Springs 3-2 for their second win. Hull/Anderson and Wisniewski/Asay once again held their own in doubles, while Brianna Ketchum won No. 2 singles.

Powell rounded out the weekend with a 4-1 loss to Green River. Wisniewski/Asay earned the Panthers’ lone match win in the defeat.

PHS faces cross-county rival Cody today (Tuesday), with the boys playing in Powell and the girls in Cody.

Asay plans to use what he saw in the teams’ first four matches to prepare them for the contests against the Broncs.

“We’ll take the four matches and continue to work on our skills,” Asay said. “It also gives a chance to look at the right position for the kids.”