It was a good week for Panther men’s tennis.
Having won just two of their first six matches, on the week of March 25 Franklin began the second half of their season. With wins over Mountain Seven rivals Tuscola and Pisgah, Sammy Gunter’s team improved their conference record to 4-4.
On March 27, the Panthers welcomed Tuscola to the Macon County Rec Park to rehash the Mountaineers’ 5-4 win in Waynesville to open the season. There, Franklin looked much-improved from the rivals’ first meeting.
“Gavin [Rinker] had his best match of the season so far, getting revenge after losing in the first encounter to the Tuscola #1 in a match tiebreak,” said Gunter of Franklin’s junior ace. “Hitting big serves, consistent groundstrokes and attacking the net helped him cruise to the win. Orrin [Mynes, #2] and Jack [Hyatt, #4] both had long matches which went to match tiebreaks, with one going our way and one theirs.”
After losing their respective matches in the season opener, Franklin’s top two singles players turned the tables in the rematch, with Rinker routing his opponent 6-0, 6-1 and Mynes grinding out a hard-fought win 4-6, 7-5 (10-6). Another promising development took shape in the return of one of the team’s top players from injury.
“At #6, Brennan Cabe played his first match of the season after being released from an elbow injury,” said Gunter of the junior’s blowout 6-0, 6-1 win. “Though a bit rusty he has good instincts, quickness, and plays with a good variation, using angles and different speeds on his ground stokes. It’s great to have him back on the courts. In doubles we had good play from all three teams and won most of the crucial points when needed.”
Between Rinker, Mynes, Cabe and junior Eli Adams at #3 [6-3, 6-2], Franklin claimed four of the contest’s six singles matches. At #1 doubles, Rinker/Adams earned a narrow win 9-7, while Mynes/Hyatt [#2] and Cabe/Josiah Holt [#3] won convincingly. The results added up to a 7-2 Panther victory, a three-match swing from their season-opening 5-4 loss.
The next day the team returned to the Macon County Rec Park to rehash their 7-2 win over Pisgah in Canton March 14. Despite playing in higher slots due to Rinker being held out with elbow soreness, Franklin’s other top singles players swept the Black Bears off the court.
“This was the first match of the season that all the guys were really dialed in and dominated the Pisgah squad,” said Gunter. “Playing his best match of the season [at] #5, Josiah was moving his feet extremely well on deep shots from his opponent to get in position to hit a quality deep reply. He had been struggling with this throughout the season, letting the ball get above his shoulders before hitting. Also, at #6 [freshman Myles Bargman] had his best match of the season in the longest match of the day. His forehand and serve have improved and [he] had long rallies against an improved Pisgah player. One of Myles’ strengths is that he has a great mental attitude regardless of how a match is going and plays hard on every shot.”
Thanks in part to continued improvement from their two freshmen, Franklin won all six singles matches in resounding fashion, with no Black Bear winning more than five total games across two sets. In doubles, Rinker returned to join Adams for an 8-2 win at #1, while Mynes/Cabe routed their opponents 8-1 at #2.
“In doubles our #1 and #2 played smart tennis, setting up shots for our net guys to put away,” said Gunter. “We are also using lobs more instead of blasting every ball hoping it goes in. Overall the team is beginning to play up to our potential, but we will continue to work on things as we head into the last two weeks of conference play following our spring break. It was a good week at the office. Go Panthers!”