ASHLAND — In most sports, teams go through ups and downs throughout the season.
Ashland’s boys tennis team has been a perfect example of that this spring.
After losing three consecutive matches, the Arrows entered their home tournament on a two-match winning streak.
Ashland parlayed that positive momentum into a second-place finish at the eight-team Ashland Invitational Saturday at Brookside Park.
“The way we started last week — we lost three matches in a row,” Ashland coach Taylor Long said. “Our morale was kind of down, and this is a morale booster. This gives us confidence.”
Westlake racked up 12.5 points to run away with the team title. Ashland was second with seven points, while Norwalk and Orrville finished tied for third with six. Rounding out the team standings were Galion in fifth (3.5 points), Shelby in sixth (2.5), Marietta in seventh (1.5) and Triway in eighth (1).
Heading into the tournament, Long hoped his Arrows would finish in the top four. With teams such as Westlake and Norwalk in the field, he knew his players would be challenged.
“The fact that we finished second, that’s awesome,” Long said. “I’m definitely happy with that.”
Ashland advanced two singles players and one doubles team to the finals, but all three lost in the championship match.
The first doubles team of Caedon Blough and Seth Karnosh opened with an 8-2 win over Shelby before downing Galion 8-6 in the semifinals. They put up a fight in the title match but lost 8-5 to Orrville.
“Seth Karnosh and Caedon Blough played unbelievable,” Long said. “They played really tough matches and made it to the finals. They were a couple of games away from winning the championship. That would have been awesome. They were definitely the ones closest to getting the gold medal.”
At second singles, freshman Ben Sinchok won 8-2 and 8-6 over his first two opponents to reach the finals, where he lost 8-0 to Westlake.
Parker Harris advanced to the third singles title match after earning 8-0 and 8-6 victories in his first two matches. The junior fell 8-0 to Westlake in the championship match.
At first singles, Cooper Glazier dropped his first match 8-4 to Galion but rallied for an 8-0 win over Marietta in a consolation match. The second doubles tandem of Reid Wash and Landon Davis lost their first match 8-5 to Marietta, but they rebounded with an 8-3 triumph over Galion in a consolation match.
“I think our doubles looked today the best they have all season, so we’re definitely going to build off that,” Long said. “In singles, I would have never thought that Ben Sinchok as a freshman would step up at second singles and make it to the championship. And Parker Harris, who’s more known for being a doubles player, he’s been stepping in for us at third singles, and he made it to the championship.
“We definitely had a lot go right today, and I’m really pleased with how it went.”
Ashland has been without Ryan Frazee, its top singles player, for roughly a week. The senior injured his calf against Dover on March 29, but he is starting to feel better and might return next week.
Once Frazee returns, Long will have to make some decisions with his lineup.
“Without Ryan, I think we have a pretty good idea of how our lineup fits best,” Long said. “When he comes back this week, we’ll have to figure out if we’re going to go back to what we were doing or if we’ll change it up again.
“That will be the big question.”
No singles or doubles players from Shelby and Galion made it past the semifinals of the tournament.
Shelby’s first doubles duo of Ty Cox and Ty Keinath dropped their first match before winning their consolation bracket match over Marietta.
Reach Chris at csnow@times-gazette.com. On Twitter: CSnow_TG