By Teddy Rydquist

Leader Sports Writer

Off to a very strong start, the Oxford Wildcats boys’ tennis team was defeated by the Lakeland Eagles, 7-1, on Sept. 23.

The first loss of the season for the team, senior Cameron Mumbrue was the only Wildcat to record a win that day, doing so in two-sets in the fourth singles flight.

Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a team immediately after a loss is to play again quickly. However, this logic did not work for Oxford as the Wildcats were defeated on Tuesday, Sept. 24 by Rochester Adams, also by a score of 7-1.

The lone Wildcat victory in this one belonged to senior Hayden Durant, 6-1, 6-0, in the top singles flight.

“The match was much closer than the final score with four of the eight matches going three-sets,” head coach Ryan Ruzziconi said of his team’s performance vs. Adams.

“We just couldn’t pull out a win when we needed it.”

Fortunately for Oxford, the team was able to get back to their winning ways with a 6-2 defeat of Almont on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Looking like they have for most of the season, the top doubles team of senior Dane and junior Silas VonAllmen took care of business in two-sets vs. the Raiders, 6-3, 6-1.

“(Sophomore) Chase Maier and (junior) Gabe Smith had a big win, too,” Ruzziconi pointed out.

Competing in the second doubles flight, Maier and Smith were victorious in three-sets, 6-4, 3-6, 10-3.

Improving to 10-2-1 for the year, Oxford is in first-place in the OAA Blue at 4-0 in league play, half a game ahead of the Avondale Yellow Jackets at 4-1.

The team hosted Ferndale on Monday, Sept. 30 in a make-up of a match originally scheduled for Sept. 10. After dueling with the Eagles, the boys rounded out their regular season by facing Armada on Tuesday, Oct. 1.