Panthers Face Tough Olympia Squad in Rain-Clearing League Match
- The Insider
- Oct 3
- 2 min read
Rain threatened all day Tuesday, but the clouds broke just long enough for the Bonney Lake Panthers boys tennis team to take the court against one of the SPSL’s best: the Olympia Bears. While the Panthers welcomed back some familiar faces in the crowd, the visiting Bears proved why they’re considered among the league’s toughest, delivering a 5–0 sweep.
Alumni in the Stands
Before first serves flew, the Panthers got a boost from a special reunion. Former varsity standouts Gavin Orozco, Jarrett Sroka, Thomas Howard, and Adam Quinto, key pieces of last year’s squad, returned to cheer on their old teammates. Their support created a spark on the home courts, even as the Panthers braced for a challenging match.
Singles Battles
At #1 singles, junior Cameron Munsch faced one of Olympia’s top players and fought hard despite a scoreline that didn’t reflect the competitiveness of the rallies. Munsch fell 1–6, 1–6, but kept points tight and showed composure against relentless pace.
At #2 singles, Nic Piton earned the call and delivered one of the most competitive efforts of the afternoon. Paton stayed in every set, often trading games to 2–3 or 3–4, but the Bears pulled away late for a 3–6, 3–6 victory.
Doubles Challenges
The Bears’ depth showed in doubles play. At #1, seniors Evan Lane and Sven Anderson faced a powerhouse pairing and were overpowered 0–6, 0–6. At #2, Darin Nguyen and Logan Schaff battled through long points, but the scoreboard didn’t go their way in a 1–6, 1–6 loss.
The day’s closest match came at #3 doubles, where late call-ups Cory Lozano and Adrian Nguyen nearly forced a deciding set. The pair traded blows in a back-and-forth match before Olympia closed the door 6–4, 7–5.
Silver Linings and Lessons
Though the final score read 0–5, the match gave the Panthers a clear picture of the league’s elite level of play as the postseason nears. The experience, and the alumni support, provided energy and insight into what the team must sharpen to make a run in the upcoming league tournament.
Next up, Bonney Lake remains at home to face Bethel on Tuesday. With the Braves sitting near the bottom of the standings, the Panthers hope to turn lessons from Olympia into late-season momentum. Only two regular season matches remain before the push toward the playoffs.
Final Score: Olympia 5, Bonney Lake 0
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