Fairfield tennis teams cruise vs. Panthers

MOUNT PLEASANT ? The Fairfield boys? tennis team completed a season sweep of rival Mount Pleasant with a 6-3 victory Thursday afternoon.

The Southeast Conference rivals split the singles matches, but Fairfield won all three doubles matches to claim their fourth victory of the season. The Trojans won their previous meeting in Fairfield 5-4.

Fairfield freshman Govi Punj continued his hot streak with a huge 8-1 win over senior Caleb Zimmerman at No. 1 singles, and Sean Soupiset beat Chase Higginbotham 8-4 at No. 2. Matt Burnstedt also won 8-4 at No. 5.

Punj and Soupiset made it a two-win day with an 8-0 victory in No. 1 doubles, while the No. 3 doubles team of Burnstedt and Matt McCan won 8-4.

The victory of the day, according to head coach Bill Sheppard, was in No. 2 doubles, however. Tommy Price and Kevin Thorn needed extra time to win the match 9-7.

?The second doubles win was particularly impressive as Tommy Price and Kevin Thorn won the final two games after a seesaw battle in windy conditions,? said Sheppard.

In JV competition, seniors Isaac Schloss and Mukund Martin both posted wins.

Next up for Fairfield (4-1-1) is a Tuesday home matchup vs. Fort Madison.

Girls win 8-1

For the second time in one week, Trojan girls? tennis posted a convincing 8-1 win in Southeast Conference action Thursday.

The Trojans won five of six singles matches and all three doubles games to best Mount Pleasant at Fairfield Middle School.

Haylee Gilpin squeezed out a 9-8 win in No. 2 singles, Alex Higdon won 8-3 at No. 3 singles and No. 4 Megan Palmer was victorious 8-1. No. 5 Kim O?Carroll and No. 6 Karley Williams both defeated their opponents 8-1.

No. 1 doubles team Jennifer Clements and Gilpin defeated Taylor Beatty and Shelby Barton 9-8, No. 2 team Higdon and Palmer won 8-6 and No. 3 duo O?Carroll and Williams recorded a quick 8-3 victory.

Several Trojans also participated in JV action. Devin Maynard, Rachel Hathaway, McKenzie Lyman, Hanna Kerr, Meghan Shelangoski and Courtney Laux all had wins in singles. Lyman and Kerr teamed up for an 8-6 victory in No. 5 doubles, while Shelangoski and Laux defeated their opponents 8-1 in No. 7 doubles.

Fairfield (4-1) will host West Burlington/Notre Dame today.