Pioneer boys win Ottumwa Invitational

OTTUMWA ? The Maharishi School boys? tennis team won 25 out of 27 round-robin matches on its way to taking the Ottumwa Invitational team crown Saturday.

The Pioneers swept seven divisions and finished runner-up in the other two to finish with 34 points. The host Bulldogs came in second with 24 points, and Keokuk was a close third with 21.

Singles champions for the Pioneers were No. 2 Sam Stickels, Raphael Gelfand at No. 3, Solaris Nite at No. 4, No. 5 Davis Fleshman and Avery Mullenneaux at No. 6. Maharishi School senior Thomas Weiss was second at No. 1 singles behind Steve Ray of Ottumwa.

Gelfand and Nite were No. 2 doubles champions, while Daniel Pirc and Girindra Selleck teamed up to top the No. 3 doubles field. Weiss and Stickels finished runner-up at No. 1 doubles, behind only Keokuk?s Dan Williams and Gabe Vandenberg.

Fairfield hosts the eight-school district tournament scheduled Thursday. Teams in attendance will include Fairfield, Maharishi School, Davis County, West Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Keokuk, Centerville and Fort Madison.