Chanute Gold put forth a dominant performance at the Chanute Invitational Varsity Tennis Tournament on Sept. 9, sweeping the event with all players unbeaten on the day.

The tournament was a rescheduled event, originally set for August 29 but postponed due to extreme heat. Chanute Gold took first place with 16 wins, followed by Labette County (10) Chanute Blue (9), Iola (4), and Neodesha (1). 

“We were blessed with beautiful weather today, and we were fortunate to have two teams in this tournament,” head coach Mike DeLaTorre said. “Overall a very good and successful day for the Lady Comets. I’m proud of the effort all 12 of these ladies demonstrated today,”

Junior Ella Guernsey triumphed at No. 1 singles, winning all four of her matches decisively, including an 8-1 victory against her teammate, sophomore Sarah Uhner from Chanute Blue.

“Ella just rolled through the meet, and her consistency and patience were keys to her success today,” DeLaTorre said. 

In No. 1 doubles, senior Rylee Smith and junior Jacqueline Smoot of Chanute Gold overcame initial struggles to win all four of their matches, including an 8-0 sweep against Chanute Blue’s duo of juniors Averee Hicks and Willow Vaughn.

The loss to Guernesy was Uhner’s only setback on the day as she went 3-1 and placed second.

Leah Burnett excelled at No. 2 singles for Chanute Gold, defeating all four of her opponents, including a noteworthy 8-3 win over Chanute Blue sophomore Brilynn Ward, who went 2-2 and finished third in her varsity debut.

“(Smith and Smoot) struggled through their first match against Neodesha, and they were not happy at all with their play, although they won,” DeLaTorre said. “(I) wasn’t happy with their play either, and we discussed what needed to be done to turn things around. They figured it out, and they dominated in their last three matches.”

Hicks was a late replacement for junior Gracie Wheeler who left school sick. She and Vaughn went 1-3 on the day.

The No. 2 doubles team, sophomore Ashtyn Cummings and junior Kanika Marcoux, similarly dominated, decisively winning their matches against Neodesha, Labette County, Iola, and Chanute Blue’s duo of senior Paige Kueser and freshman Rylee Dent.

Kueser and Dent finished 3-1, dropping just three games en route to victories over Labette County, Iola and Neodesha.

Like Ward in singles, Dent was making her varsity debut.

“Although a little nervous at the start, they quickly adapted to the varsity level and played some great tennis throughout the day,” DeLaTorre said of Ward and Dent.

The Blue Comets’ next challenge will be at the Independence Invitational on Thursday, featuring strong competitors from the SEK like Fort Scott and host Independence.

“It’s back to work the next two days to prepare for our next meet, and it will be tougher,” DeLaTorre said.

Chanute High School Invitational Varsity Tennis Tournament Results – September 9, 2024

Chanute Gold

• #1 Singles:
  • Ella Guernsey vs. Madison McClanahan (Neodesha) 8-0
  • Ella Guernsey vs. Lucy Pearson (Labette County) 8-0
  • Ella Guernsey vs. Bethany Miller (Iola) 8-0
  • Ella Guernsey vs. Sarah Uhner (Chanute Blue) 8-1
• #2 Singles:
  • Leah Burnett vs. Savannah Kelly (Neodesha) 8-0
  • Leah Burnett vs. Amelia Carnahan (Labette County) 8-4
  • Leah Burnett vs. Melanie Palmer (Iola) 8-0
  • Leah Burnett vs. Brilynn Ward (Chanute Blue) 8-3
• #1 Doubles:
  • Rylee Smith/Jacqueline Smoot vs. Rose Imhoff/Abby White (Neodesha) 8-3
  • Rylee Smith/Jacqueline Smoot vs. Madison Beavans/Hannah Benson (Labette County) 8-1
  • Rylee Smith/Jacqueline Smoot vs. Kyndal Bycroft/Harper Desmarteau (Iola) 8-1
  • Rylee Smith/Jacqueline Smoot vs. Averee Hicks/Willow Vaughn (Chanute Blue) 8-0
• #2 Doubles:
  • Ashtyn Cummings/Kanika Marcoux vs. Harper Burgell/Kate West (Neodesha) 8-1
  • Ashtyn Cummings/Kanika Marcoux vs. Audrey Belknap/Bethany Merrick (Labette County) 8-2
  • Ashtyn Cummings/Kanika Marcoux vs. Marlee Westhoff/Madelyn Ashworth (Iola) 8-0
  • Ashtyn Cummings/Kanika Marcoux vs. Paige Kueser/Rylee Dent (Chanute Blue) 8-0

Chanute Blue

• #1 Singles:
  • Sarah Uhner vs. Madison McClanahan (Neodesha) 8-0
  • Sarah Uhner vs. Bethany Miller (Iola) 8-7(9-7)
  • Sarah Uhner vs. Lucy Pearson (Labette County) 8-2
  • Sarah Uhner vs. Ella Guernsey (Chanute Gold) 1-8
• #2 Singles:
  • Brilynn Ward vs. Savannah Kelly (Neodesha) 8-0
  • Brilynn Ward vs. Melanie Palmer (Iola) 8-1
  • Brilynn Ward vs. Amelia Carnahan (Labette County) 1-8
  • Brilynn Ward vs. Leah Burnett (Chanute Gold) 3-8
• #1 Doubles:
  • Averee Hicks/Willow Vaughn vs. Rose Imhoff/Abby White (Neodesha) 8-5
  • Averee Hicks/Willow Vaughn vs. Kyndal Bycroft/Harper Desmarteau (Iola) 4-8
  • Averee Hicks/Willow Vaughn vs. Madison Beavans/Hannah Benson (Labette County) 4-8
  • Averee Hicks/Willow Vaughn vs. Rylee Smith/Jacqueline Smoot (Chanute Gold) 0-8
• #2 Doubles:
  • Rylee Dent/Paige Kueser vs. Harper Burgell/Kate West (Neodesha) 8-2
  • Rylee Dent/Paige Kueser vs. Marlee Westhoff/Madelyn Ashworth (Iola) 8-0
  • Rylee Dent/Paige Kueser vs. Audrey Belknap/Bethany Merrick (Labette County) 8-1
  • Rylee Dent/Paige Kueser vs. Ashtyn Cummings/Kanika Marcoux (Chanute Gold) 0-8

Team Scores:

• Chanute Gold: 16 wins, First Place
• Labette County: 10 wins, Second Place
• Chanute Blue: 9 wins, Third Place
• Iola: 4 wins, Fourth Place
• Neodesha: 1 win, Fifth Place