McPherson High’s boys tennis team traveled to compete in the John Markham Spring Classic on Saturday, April 9. The team of senior Kento Aizawa, junior Hadley Hageman, sophomores Kaden Stewart, Nolan Schrader, and Andrew Snell, and freshman Jarrod Nowak placed first place.

Both the doubles teams taken placed in the top ten in this prestigious meet. The team of Aizawa and Schrader ended the meet with a first place win over Lawrence Free State. Hageman and Stewart round up the backside of the bracket and received ninth place after a tough second round loss.

“This year, I am playing with a different mind set. I’ve learned that I need to play for myself. If I play with the mindset that this year is my last, I’ve learned to put off things that would have made me upset last year,” senior Aizawa said.

Freshman Nowak is starting to prove that this season will be successful even at a young age. Nowak lost to Wichita Independent’s Wonjoon Cho in the singles final, 8-2. Choo place fourth in the state last in class 3-1A. Snell placed fifth for the day.

As a team MHS scored 139 points for first place over class 5A Goddard Eisenhower and 6A Lawrence Free State.

The varsity boys will be competing again at the home Invitational April 15th.