Unioto boys' tennis prepares for a bittersweet first-round district matchup

CHILLICOTHE — Making districts in one's first year of playing any sport is an accomplishment. However, in the case of the Unioto Sherman Tanks' boys' tennis team, their trip is going to be a bit bittersweet.

Heading to Athens on Saturday to compete in the Division II district doubles tournament are the pairs of Ashton Sigler-Lucas Hanes and JC Stark-Mason Thornsberry.

"With me being a senior, I did not think that I would really go far with tennis," Sigler said. "But we put in the work and have a really great coach. So, we all have come together and have gelled together as a team. I think that it shows in our success so far."

While it will take a lot of work to make their way to the state tournament, the bigger story for the team is getting past the first round.

In an interesting twist of fate, Unioto's doubles teams will be facing off against each other.

"We feel like this is a win for us either way," Hanes said. "It would be good for them to move on, but it would be awesome for us too. So, either way, we're happy."

That happiness has been surrounding the team, well before they knew of their district assignments, as the quartet, as well as the team's other members, have had to get themselves acclimated to what had been a foreign sport to them.

In the process, they have had to take on more experienced teams who have counted them out due to their inexperience.

“To me, it feels like everything was worth it,” Stark said. “We all stepped out of our comfort zones. This is something that we had never done before, so we had a lot of teams doubting us. For example, Waverly picked us up as soon as the tournament draw came out and these guys ended up knocking them out in the first round. So, it has felt really good proving ourselves as actual tennis players.”

So on Saturday, no matter who comes out victorious on Saturday, the team is going to remain in high spirits because either way, they have defied the odds.

“I think that it will be a pretty good match,” Thornsberry said. “Whoever wins, wins. But it would be really cool to see either of us move on."

For the team's coach, Brandon Hanes, while he admits that the situation is not advantageous, the team will be prepared either way.

"We will be ready on Saturday no matter who we get to play even if it’s our own team," Hanes said. "This group has put Unioto boys' tennis on notice not only for districts, but also for years to come. Our best day is yet to come."

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Unioto tennis prepares itself for a familiar district opponent