By Teddy Rydquist

Leader Sports Writer

Facing the Avondale Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Oxford boys’ tennis team was in for one of their toughest tests of the season.

Falling in both the top doubles and singles flights, the depth of the Wildcats helped the team prevail, 5-3.

“Big wins from seniors Brock Heilig, Cameron Mumbrue and Trevor Wallace helped seal the deal,” head coach Ryan Ruzziconi observed.

The victory moved the Wildcats to 7-0-1 overall and 3-0 in OAA play. At 3-1 in league play, Avondale is currently in second-place in the OAA Blue.

Their second consecutive road match, the boys also took on the Farmington Falcons on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Winning again by a 5-3 margin, the highlight of the night was Heilig’s match at No. 2 singles. Dropping the first set, he overcame an early deficit in the second set and vicious cramps to win in three sets. Giving Oxford all they needed to record the win, Heilig was mobbed on the court by his teammates.

Bouncing back from a surprising defeat on Sept. 17, Oxford’s top doubles duo, senior Dane and junior Silas VonAllmen, took care of business in two sets vs. Farmington, 7-5, 7-6.

“We’ve played very well on the road,” Ruzziconi pointed out about his squad.

“We’ve beat Avondale, Farmington and Royal Oak – historically the top teams in the OAA Blue – all on the road.”

Holding a one-game lead over Avondale in the OAA Blue standings, the 8-0-1 Wildcats were scheduled to return home for a non-league date with the Lakeland Eagles on Sept. 23.