What a start to the season for the Iola High School tennis team! They battled fiercely at the Chanute Invitational, bringing home a fantastic third-place finish. From seasoned players to exciting debuts, every Mustang showed incredible grit. Which player impressed you the most with their performance?

The Iola High School tennis team commenced its 2025 fall sports season with an impressive showing, clinching a commendable third-place finish at the highly competitive round-robin Chanute Invitational. This early success sets a promising tone for the Mustangs as they navigate the challenges of the season, demonstrating their potential against strong regional opponents.

Despite not securing the top spot in either the singles or doubles categories, the Mustangs’ performance highlighted a consistent level of individual and team achievement across the board. Each participating athlete from Iola demonstrated resilience and skill, contributing significantly to the team’s overall standing in the tournament.

Coach Chris Belknap lauded his team’s efforts, specifically commending Bethany Miller, Abby Jerome, Marlee Westhoff, Madelyn Ashworth, Evie Schooler, and Piper Jordan. Belknap emphasized the inclusive nature of the event, noting Piper Jordan’s debut varsity performance in doubles alongside Evie Schooler, a pairing that showed remarkable synergy for their first competitive outing.

The No. 1 doubles team, comprised of Marlee Westhoff and Madelyn Ashworth, delivered a strong performance, ultimately earning a third-place medal. Their journey included a challenging opening match against Sierra Hill and Amelia Carnahan of Labette County, where they fell in straight sets, showcasing the high level of competition present.

Westhoff and Ashworth quickly regrouped, demonstrating their competitive spirit by decisively defeating Meg West and Amelia Oldweiler of Neodesha with a 6-1 victory. This turnaround underscored their ability to adjust and overcome initial setbacks, a crucial attribute for competitive tennis players.

Their campaign concluded with a hard-fought match against Ashlyn Cummings and Kanika Marcoux of Chanute, the eventual tournament champions, where the Iola duo lost 6-1. This match provided valuable experience against top-tier talent, offering insights for future development.

In the No. 2 singles division, Abby Jerome showcased incremental improvement throughout her matches, a testament to her determination and evolving skill set. Despite not securing a win, her competitive spirit shone through in close contests, particularly her 7-5 loss to Makenna Burke of Labette Co.

Jerome’s subsequent matches included a 6-2 loss to Savannah Kelley of Neodesha and a straight-sets defeat to Brylin Ward of Chanute, who went on to claim the No. 2 singles championship. These encounters provided critical learning opportunities for Jerome, allowing her to gauge her performance against some of the region’s best players.

Overall, the Chanute Invitational served as an invaluable season opener for the Iola High School tennis program, allowing both seasoned players and newcomers like Piper Jordan to gain crucial match experience and build team cohesion. The early success of a third-place finish provides a strong foundation and positive momentum as the Mustangs look forward to a promising 2025 fall sports season.