Bison tennis boys win finales, earn high state seeds

McCook brothers Joel Miller (left above) and Nathaniel Miller (right) have teamed to be No. 3 seed among all Class B No. 2 doubles teams. Below, sophomore Evan Humphrey handles a return as part of Bison No. 1 doubles with freshman Lincoln Michaelis. They're seeded sixth at Class B state which starts on Thursday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Family canines happily consumed hot dogs while kids frolicked down nearby hillsides during McCook’s clean sweep of three final home duals last weekend.

The Bison basically breezed to their 14th, 15th and 16th wins in 17 duals this season.

No match was closer than 6-1 against the Bering Bulldogs on Saturday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The Adams Central Patriots played no set closer than 6-2 during their state-formatted showdown also Saturday.

Friday evening’s showdown featured a tough No. 2 doubles match for sophomore Joel Miller and freshman Nathaniel Miller against Beatrice.

However, the new Bison varsity duo delivered a 6-4 win and 6-2 victory while reaching 31-3 this season.

They’ll be among all the Bison who are taking impressive season records to Lincoln for Class B state tennis tournament play starting on Friday.

Senior Mason Michaelis (33-1) has been seeded No. 1 among all Class B No. 2 singles players as he defends his 2019 state championship.

Michaelis has only lost match to Class A Kearney this season.

Junior Isaac Hinze couldn’t be much better in his first season playing No. 1 singles.

He’s gone 35-0 against every foe’s best players and goes into Lincoln’s Woods Tennis Center with a No. 4 seeding.

The Miller-Miller combo are 31-3 and seeded No. 3 entering that Class B No. 2 doubles tournament.

Results from the McCook duals held Friday and Saturday.

“Picked up three shutout wins as the team competed very well. We close out the regular season with a 16-1 duel record,” coach Matt Wiemers remarked.

Sophomore Evan Humphrey and freshman Lincoln Michaelis have reeled off No. 1 doubles victories at a .750 rate en route to their 27-9 record.

They’ll be seeded No. 6 in this group of top Class B No. 1 doubles teams.

More about the Bison will be featured in Thursday’s Gazette including potential matchups. Wiemers provided these results: McCook 4,

Beatrice 0

1 singles-Isaac Hinze def C. Kelley 6-0, 6-1

2 singles-Mason Michaelis def C. Saathoff 6-0, 6-0

1 doubles-Evan Humphrey/Lincoln Michaelis def C. Dittbrenner/C. Freitag 6-2, 6-1

2 doubles-Joel Miller/Nathaniel Miller def T. Dittbrenner/M. Meyer 6-4, 6-2

McCook 4,

Gering 0

1 singles-Isaac Hinze def T. Davis 6-0, 6-1

2 singles-Mason Michaelis def D. Karpf 6-0, 6-0

1 doubles-Evan Humphrey/Lincoln Michaelis def N. Moreno/K. Ybarra 6-1, 6-1

2 doubles-Joel Miller/Nathaniel Miller def N. Macias/B. Jansen 6-0, 6-0

McCook 4,

Adams Central 0

1 singles-Isaac Hinze def O. Kersher 6-0, 6-0

2 singles-Mason Michaelis def D. Ackles 6-1, 6-1

1 doubles-Evan Humphrey/Lincoln Michaelis def L. Bohlen/N. Kulwicki 6-2, 6-1 2 doubles-Joel Miller/Nathaniel Miller def E. Schumm/D. Goracke 6-1, 6-2