Grantsville knew it faced a daunting task in singles competition when it traveled to Juan Diego Thursday.
The Soaring Eagle features three of the top singles players in the state with returning 3A first singles champion Brendan Kempin and his brother Ryan Kempin at second singles and Brenton Raynor at third singles.
Juan Diego lived up to its rankings with Brendan Kempin posting a win over Grantsville’s Braden Sandberg 6-0, 6-1; Ryan Kempin defeated Tyler Colson 6-0, 6-1; and Raynor downed Devin Orgill 6-1, 6-0.
Grantsville made some noise, however, with victories in both doubles matches against a team predicted to vie for a state 3A title this year.
Tanner Elsholz and Jacob May defeated Juan Diego 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (6-2) at first doubles. Lane Sutton and Dallin Dalton won at second doubles 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3.
“The match went about the way I expected. I knew Juan Diego was super strong at singles and not quite as solid at doubles, but still good,” said Grantsville coach Steve Thurgood. “I was really pleased with the way our doubles teams played.”
The Cowboys host Stansbury today and play at Ogden on April 10.