Rochester boys tennis roundup: Zebras beat Whitko, Lewis Cass, now 5-1 in TRC

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Jackson Frounfelter Camden ZInk

Boys tennis

Rochester 5, Whitko 0 (Wednesday)

Wade Bowers, Jackson Frounfelter and Camden Zink won at singles, and the doubles teams of Harrison Dunwoody and Ashton Musselman at No. 1 and Hunter Kamp and Carter Merideth at No. 2 also prevailed for Rochester in a Three Rivers Conference home win over Whitko Wednesday.

Rochester lost five games total in the four completed matches. Zink won by forfeit at No. 3 singles due to Whitko’s lack of numbers.

Rochester improved to 5-1 in the TRC. They will host Logansport at 5 p.m. Monday. Their TRC finale is at Northwestern next Wednesday.

RESULTS: ROCHESTER 5, WHITKO 0

Singles

Wade Bowers (RHS) def. Isaac Long (WHI), 6-0, 6-0

Jackson Frounfelter (RHS) def. Chase Marshall (WHI), 6-0, 6-1

Camden Zink (RHS) won by forfeit.

Doubles

Harrison Dunwoody-Ashton Musselman (RHS) def. Nathan Augustus-James Ness (WHI), 6-1, 6-0

Hunter Kamp-Carter Merideth (RHS) def. Brendyn Bradley-Wyatt Sponseller (WHI), 6-1, 6-2

Rochester 4, Lewis Cass 1 (Monday)

Jackson Frounfelter and Camden Zink won at Nos. 2 and 3 singles, respectively, and Rochester also swept matches with both of its all-senior doubles in a home win over Lewis Cass Monday.

All four wins came in straight sets. Frounfelter beat Jayden Ramer 6-1, 6-1 while Zink pulled out a 6-4, 6-3 win over Jayden Figueredo.

Harrison Dunwoody and Ashton Musselman received a challenge from Harrison Clark and Sam Hull in the second set before rolling 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles.

Wade Bowers lost 6-0, 6-1 to Liam Ellington at No. 1 singles.

“I talked to Muss afterwards, and I said, ‘What do you think the issue was?’ And he was like, ‘We were missing wide shots. Our shots were too wide.’” Rochester coach Kyle Reinartz said of the more narrow decided second set at No. 1 doubles.

Hunter Kamp and Carter Merideth handled Myles Johnson and Emil Pusback 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 doubles. Kamp might have more power of the duo while Merideth excels with his touch at the net.

“I think Merideth’s biggest strength is putting it where they’re not,” Reinartz said. “They played together in the Valley match. They were supposed to play together in the Manchester match, but they didn’t have enough players. We let them play together during practice competition matches, but I think they work well together considering they’re both seniors and they’re both out there because they want to be out there, and they’re doing great.”

Zink, a freshman, appeared to be able to move Figueredo around the court with well-placed forehands.

“My forehand was really good, I thought,” Zink said. “I was able to place it where I needed to. … I made him run down shots a lot, and he hit them high, and it was an easy return for me every time, so I definitely got him moving.”

Zink learned the game from his older brother Brayden, a 2023 Rochester grad who played No. 1 singles during his prep career.

“I’ve been playing tennis since fifth grade, and I’ve always loved it,” Zink said. “I just had to follow after my brother Brayden.”

As for Frounfelter, he bounced back after two losses last week to players from Manchester and Wabash.

“I would say the difference is this kid had a very similar playing style to Jackson,” Reinartz said. “Slow, consistency… and I thought Jackson played to Jackson’s strength, not to his opponent. He played to Jackson’s strengths, and I thought he competed very well.”

Results: Rochester 4, Lewis Cass 1

Singles

Liam Ellington (LC) def. Wade Bowers (RHS), 6-0, 6-1

Jackson Frounfelter (RHS) def. Jayden Ramer (LC), 6-1, 6-1

Camden Zink (RHS) def. Jaylen Figueredo (LC), 6-4, 6-3

Doubles

Harrison Dunwoody-Ashton Musselman (RHS) def. Harrison Clark-Sam Hull (LC), 6-0, 6-3

Hunter Kamp-Carter Merideth (RHS) def. Myles Johnson-Eil Pusback (LC), 6-2, 6-3