Cruiser Boys Tennis Battles Hard but Falls Short in Both Matches Ahead of League Tournament

The Eatonville Cruiser boy’s tennis team wrapped up its final week of regular season play with two tightly contested matches, both of which ended in narrow 3–2 losses to Clover Park and Fife. Despite the setbacks, the Cruisers showed strong competitive spirit and several standout individual performances as they now prepare for this week’s League Tournament.

Eatonville opened the week hosting Clover Park, where the visiting Timberwolves edged out the Cruisers in a match that went the full distance.

In No. 1 singles, Clover Park’s Mac Hansen outlasted Eatonville’s Jacob Golding in a grueling three-set battle, rallying for a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3 victory. Golding came out sharp, taking the opening set in a tiebreak, but Hansen found his rhythm in the second and third sets to secure the win.

At No. 2 singles, the Timberwolves’ Axel Cabiles topped Carl Lucas in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, giving Clover Park a two-point lead. Eatonville’s doubles teams fought hard to keep the match close, with the Cruisers taking two of the three doubles courts.

Clover Park’s No. 1 duo of Elijah Sta Ana and Akira Mackley earned a 6-4, 6-3 win over Eatonville’s pairing of Jackson Rockey and Ethan Stogsdill, but the Cruisers answered back with victories in the next two doubles matches. The tandem of Stephen Haas and Blake Pool rallied for a comeback win at No. 2 doubles, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, while Carter Belcher and Nate Diamond dominated at No. 3 doubles, winning 6-3, 6-1.

Despite the late surge, Clover Park’s early singles points proved to be the difference as Eatonville fell just short, 3–2.

Later in the week, the Cruisers traveled to face Fife in another close match that again came down to the wire, with the Trojans prevailing 3–2.

Golding bounced back at No. 1 singles, defeating Fife’s Zane Gunter in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, while Lucas continued Eatonville’s strong play at the top of the lineup with a commanding 6-0, 6-2 win over Peyton Parker at No. 2 singles. Those victories gave the Cruisers early momentum, but Fife controlled doubles play to earn the team win.

The Trojans’ top doubles team of Jacob Patten and Robert Carlos handled Rockey and Stogsdill 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 doubles, and the duo of Hunter Kruse and Ethan Carlos defeated Haas and Pool 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. Eatonville’s No. 3 team of Holden Hetland and Belcher earned the Cruisers’ lone doubles win, battling for a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Nathan Chang and Kolton Clary, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Fife’s early lead.

The Cruisers now shift their focus to the League Tournament, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 22–23. The event was moved up a day due to rain in the forecast and will be held at Clover Park High School and the Lakewood Racquet & Sport Club.

Eatonville will enter three singles players and three doubles teams as they look to finish the season strong and make a deep postseason run.