Rochester boys tennis falls to Peru, but Reinartz praises effort

Val T.
4 hours ago
3 min read

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The Peru boys tennis team has won eight consecutive sectional titles and 35 sectional titles in its history, and they have dominated the Three Rivers Conference since joining the conference in 2015.

Rochester features only one player with previous full-time varsity experience.

Peru used their experience and skill to beat the host Zebras 5-0 at the RHS courts Thursday.

Peru won all five matches in straight sets, and Rochester won just five games in the five matches combined.

Rochester coach Kyle Reinartz said that what he wanted to see was more about focus and being able to put a lost point out of mind.

“Peru has always been a good tennis program,” Reinartz said. “Even when I was in high school, they have always been very solid. And you’ve got to give credit to coach (Mike) Saine for doing that. He’s been doing that for however many years. I couldn't even tell you. You’ve got to give credit to Peru. They’re always going to be a tough opponent.

“The one thing I can say my boys have learned or can learn is we’ve got to focus on ourselves and focus on the fundamentals of it. We can’t beat ourselves. You can’t beat yourselves up. Simple as that.”

Camden Zink, a sophomore and the team’s most experienced player, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Riley Astrup at No. 1 singles.

Griffin Newton lost to Logan Rogers 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles, and Luke Gottschalk, making his singles debut, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Landon Steele at No. 3 singles.

Lukas Rodriguez and Rocket Schwartz handled Rochester’s Logan Fuller and Jesse Smith 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles, and Sawyer Collier and Koen McGuire beat Cash Casper and Ayden Smith 6-0, 6-3 at No. 2 doubles.

Casper and Gottschalk switched spots in the lineup from where they had been playing since the second match of the season.

“So we’ve seen Cash and Ayden at doubles together against Valley (on Aug. 18), and we didn’t think it was bad, but we haven’t seen Luke at singles, and that’s not something that he was afraid of doing,” Reinartz said. “With his length and his athleticism, I think he’s very capable of playing singles. Just to see where they’re at because Cash has never played, and Luke has never played. Where can you play the best at?

“I thought Cash and Ayden at two dubs today played very well, and I thought Luke, for not playing singles yet and against a tough opponent, I thought he competed, right? His scorecard might not show that, but I thought he did very well.”

Rochester was coming off a 3-2 win over North Judson Tuesday. Zink and Newton won at singles, and Fuller and Jesse Smith won at No. 1 doubles.

“It felt very good,” Reinartz said. “It was so awesome seeing Griff Newton getting his first win, and he was smiling off that court.”

Peru also won the JV match 2-0.

RESULTS: PERU 5, ROCHESTER 0

Singles

Riley Astrup (PERU) def. Camden Zink (RHS), 6-0, 6-0

Logan Rogers (PERU) def. Griffin Newton (RHS), 6-1, 6-0

Landon Steele (PERU) def. Luke Gottschalk (RHS), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

Lukas Rodriguez-Rocket Schwartz (PERU) def. Logan Fuller-Jesse Smith (RHS), 6-1, 6-0

Sawyer Collier-Koen McGuire (PERU) def. Cash Casper-Ayden Smith (RHS), 6-0, 6-3

JV RESULTS: PERU 2, ROCHESTER 0