Fighting against the elements and tough competition at the North Regional Tennis Tournament, the Powell Panthers earned some improved seeds heading into the state tournament, as the Panther boys tied for sixth and the girls placed eighth in Casper.

After moving the tournament up to Wednesday and Thursday last week, the Panthers battled the wind on Wednesday, which led to playing only the first round before a shortened format on Thursday included eight game pro sets in the consolation rounds prior to the third place match.

“Everybody was playing really good tennis that first day with 30 mile an hour winds with some 50 mile gusts,” coach Joe Asay said. “We just shifted a bunch of those matches from day one so it [Thursday] was going to end up being a long day.”

On the boys’ side, Nathan Preator battled back from a semifinal loss to earn the No. 3 seed, finishing the weekend with a 3-1 record.

Trevion Solberg was unable to improve his seeding at No. 2 singles, finishing the weekend 0-2.

Taeson Schultz and Ryan Barrus battled back from a close opening round three-set loss, fighting back to the consolation semifinal. The duo finished 1-2.

Isaac Stensing and Alex Watts won their first consolation match after losing their first match in three sets, but finished with a 1-2 record.

One of the bigger improvements on the boys’ side came from Memphis Solberg and Calvin Opps, as they won their opening match and lost in the semifinal before winning two straight matches to finish third. They improved from their sixth place seed heading into the tournament.

“During the course of the season the wins are always easy to celebrate and get excited about,” Asay said. “There was a bit of that going on at that three doubles position and certainly, [it] was super fun to see those two sophomore boys being able to do as well as they did and get that improvement.”

The boys finished tied with Cody for sixth with 22 points, while Sheridan ran away with the team crown, nearly doubling second place’s total with 60 points.

On the girls’ side the improvement came at the top, as No. 1 singles player Naomi Whipple significantly improved from her No. 8 seed heading into the tournament.

She rebounded from an opening match loss, scored two wins the second day before a loss in the third place game to finish fourth heading into the state tournament.

“Naomi, another spot there that had some good matchups, being able to play against the girl from NC [Natrona County] that she lost to just the week before,” Asay said. “It was a good tournament for her as well.”

At No. 2 singles, Sophie Czirr lost both of her matches to finish 0-2.

Kyra Morrow and Anneliese Petersen also lost both of their matches at No. 1 doubles.

Isabelle Urbach and Elaina Kousoulos won their opening match before losing two straight and finishing 1-2 at No. 2 doubles.

At No. 3 doubles, Bailee Allred and Ava Stearns lost two straight matches to finish 0-2.

The Cody and Kelly Walsh girls tied for the regional title with 52 points while the Panthers finished eighth with 11 points, just one behind Natrona County and Sheridan.

Heading to the state tournament in Gillette, the Panthers will be looking to put weeks of hard work and practice into the final competition of the season.

“The biggest thing continues to be recognizing how we try to play the game,” Asay said. “Excited to get them out on the courts Monday and Tuesday and it’s always fun to go out. The kids enjoy traveling. I certainly hope they’re pretty excited about their opportunity to compete.”

Matches will be played around Gillette starting Thursday and concluding Saturday.

BOYS RESULTS

Team scores — 1. Sheridan 60, 2. Jackson 31, 3. Kelly Walsh 29, 4. Thunder Basin 24, 5. Campbell County 23, T6. Powell and Cody 22, 8. Natrona County 12

Nathan Preator (No. 1 singles) — Preator def. Bode Strand (Kelly Walsh) 6-0, 6-4; Sean Brown (Sheridan) def. Preator 2-6, 5-7; Preator def. Zach Chenevert (Natrona County) 8-5; Preator def. Jaxon Richert (Campbell County) 6-1, 7-5

Trevion Solberg (No. 2 singles) — Carter Gray (Sheridan) def. Solberg 3-6, 1-6; Grayson Ingram (Natrona County) def. Solberg 3-8

Taeson Schultz/Ryan Barrus (No. 1 doubles) — Walker/Bujans (Sheridan) def. Schultz/Barrus 6-2, 5-7, 5-7; Schultz/Barrus def. Jenkins/Bruce (Campbell County) 8-0; Gulley/Moore (Thunder Basin) def. Schultz/Barrus 1-8

Isaac Stensing/Alex Watts (No. 2 doubles) — Boyles/Larsen (Kelly Walsh) def. Stensing/Watts 6-4, 2-6, 6-7; Stensing/Watts def. Walker/Ruff (Campbell County) 8-2; Bingham/Benniga (Jackson) def. Stensing/Watts 8-8 (2-7)

Memphis Solberg/Calvin Opps (No. 3 doubles) — Solberg/Opps def. Freyman/Anderson (Jackson) 6-1, 6-2; Levin/Murdock (Kelly Walsh) def. Solberg/Opps (2-6, 4-6); Solberg/Opps def. Hurtsfield/Howell (Thunder Basin) 8-3; Solberg/Opps def. Wood/Laing (Cody) 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)

GIRLS RESULTS

Team scores — T1. Cody and Kelly Walsh 52, 3. Campbell County 34, 4. Jackson 28, 5. Thunder Basin 22, T6. Natrona County and Sheridan 12, 8. Powell 11

Naomi Whipple (No. 1 singles) — Harper Klinger (Kelly Walsh) def. Whipple 4-6, 1-6; Whipple def. Ellie Garcia (Thunder Basin) 8-6; Whipple def. Clara Mueller (Natrona County) 8-4; Noelle Graham (Cody) def. Whipple 4-6, 1-6

Sophie Czirr (No. 2 singles) — Brenna Foote (Cody) def. Czirr 1-6, 4-6; Rosey Jones (Jackson) def. Czirr 2-8

Kyra Morrow/Anneliese Petersen (No. 1 doubles) — Despain/Wenke (Cody) def. Morrow/Petersen (3-6, 1-6); Ranum/Neary (Campbell County) def. Morrow/Petersen 1-8

Isabelle Urbach/Elaina Kousoulos (No. 2 doubles) — Urbach/Kousoulos def. Scarlett/Millham (Jackson) 6-1, 6-3; Wassink/Dansie (Cody) def. Urbach/Kousoulos 3-6, 3-6; Torres/Kuhbacher def. Urbach/Kousolos 7-9

Bailee Allred/Ava Stearns (No. 3 doubles) — Rodriguez/Heibult (Campbell County) def. Allred/Stearns 6-2, 2-6, 4-6; Cole/Abegglen (Natrona County) def. Allred/Stearns 7-9 (8-10)

STATE FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS

No. 1 singles: Naomi Whipple vs. Rylin Arnell (Green River); Nathan Preator vs. Dylan Archibald (Green River)

No. 2 singles: Sophie Czirr vs. Grace Gomez (Green River); Trevion Solberg vs. Elijah Hatch (Torrington)

No. 1 doubles: Kyra Morrow and Annaliese Petersen vs. Proctor/Peterson (Laramie); Taeson Schultz and Ryan Barrus vs. Boyer/Peterson (Laramie)

No. 2 doubles: Isabelle Urbach and Elaina Kousoulos vs. Wahl/English (Green River); Isaac Stensing and Alex Watts vs. Dodson/Neher (Green River)

No. 3 doubles: Bailee Allred and Ava Stearns vs. Martin/Proctor (Laramie); Memphis Solberg and Calvin Opps vs. Jenkins/Powell (Rock Springs)