Photos and story by Chris Brooks, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — The rain was a mainstay over the weekend across much of the surrounding area. And for the time ahead, it will continue to hover overhead, creating a damper for many local teams looking to pile in their battles coming down the homestretch with Sectionals now a mere two weeks away.
But out on the links at the Wellsville Country Club, the battle was on across perfect conditions despite the inclement weather, as the host Lions welcomed in their archrival Hornell for battle on Monday.
Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, it wouldn’t deter what has been an excellent senior season for Ethan Bailey, as he led the front of the pack once again for Wellsville, firing off the match’s best round to propel the hosts forward far enough to come away victorious with a 216-226 win over the Red Raiders.
Bailey led all participating golfers at the top of the scorecard, as he fired the medalist round for the Lions (4-5) with a match-low round of 44. Following behind was Noah Brogan, who contributed a round of 54. Fletcher Kaye recorded a 58, while Jackson Shoughrue followed with a 60.
Hornell (2-8) was led by a team-low round of 56 fired by both Kenny Graham and Rachel Holbrook. Close behind them on the scorecard were Alex Norton and Riley Tierney, as they each recorded rounds of 57 to round off the scoring for the Red Raiders.
Wellsville is back on the links today, if weather permits, as they hit the road for the Bolivar Golf Club to visit the host Wolverines in a 4 p.m. tee time.
Fillmore 195, Cuba-Rushford 230
RUSHFORD — Despite the tough conditions outdoors at Allegheny Hills in Rushford, the Eagles of Fillmore still managed to put together a strong round of 195, with Anderson Wiltsey leading the charge in the team’s sixth straight win on the links by taking down the “visiting” Rebels of Cuba-Rushford on Monday.
Wiltsey was once again back at the top of Fillmore’s (6-0) scorecard at the end of the day, as he propelled the Eagles towards victory with his medalist round of 45. Not far behind was Jack Cool, who chipped in with his round of 49. Reid Cockle provided a 50, while Layton Sanasith had a 51 to pitch in.
The Rebels (2-3-1) were paced by a team-low round of 54 shot by Kaden Bell. Sebastian Saulter and Haven Kellogg each pitched in with rounds of 56, while Cliff Karn had a 64.
Both teams are back on the links Thursday night, if weather permits, with 4 p.m. tee times, as Fillmore aims for their seventh straight win with a visit to Ischua Valley Golf Club in Franklinville to face Hinsdale, while Cuba-Rushford returns to Allegheny Hills to host Bolivar-Richburg.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 4, Wellsville 1
HOUGHTON — Hunkered down from within the Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex at Houghton University away from the rain and wind, the Eagles of Fillmore found a way to maintain their undefeated status on the season Monday night against visiting Wellsville, using a sweep of the doubles matches along with a resilient and outstanding performance from Isaiah Sisson at second singles to knock home a 4-1 win.
“It’s always a good win when you beat Wellsville. We continued our solid doubles play, and Eben (Schilke) has really found his stride at first. Tonight was about Isaiah at second singles. He fell behind early in the first, but won the last three and closed it out. Once he got rolling, he won his last five and won his match. That kind of willpower is pretty fun to watch, especially when he’s a freshman. There’s no rest for us, we have to turn back around with another tough battle tomorrow.”
Sisson was the headlining act on the tennis court for the Eagles, as he went stride for stride with Wellsville’s Gavan Dickerson the entire distance, as he rebounded after a slow first set start to record the opening win over Dickerson. In turn, Dickerson would then flip the script himself for the Lions with a 7-5 tiebreak victory himself to force a third and final set.
In the last set, Sisson found himself behind by 3-0 and 4-1 scores at one point before finding his groove down the stretch to bounce it back and record the win in resilient fashion.
Eben Schilke added in a first singles victory himself for Fillmore over Wellsville’s Hua Qui Zhang, taking the 6-1, 6-1 decision. To pair with the two singles matchups, the Eagles brought out the brooms in both doubles matches, as the first doubles team of Jack Boon and Joe Derck collected a competitive 6-3, 6-3 win over Shane Davidson and Jayden Acker, while Ezra Knapp and Henry Decker worked their way past Joel Janssen and David Anderson with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph.
Wellsville was able to record one victory from within the singles department, as Adam Iantorno used a first-set shutout as fuel to win a back-and-forth battle with Marcus Wolfer at third singles by a 6-0, 6-4 count. The Lions are back home to host Addison Wednesday night, if weather permits, at 5 p.m.
As for Fillmore, they will mark their return to the Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex tonight with a 5 p.m. first serve against Avoca/Prattsburgh.
Singles
1. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Hua Qui Zhang (WLSV), 6-1, 6-1.
2. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. Gavan Dickerson (WLSV), 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
3. Adam Iantorno (WLSV) def. Marcus Wolfer (FIL), 6-0, 6-4.
Doubles
1. Jack Boon/Joe Derck (FIL) def. Shane Davidson/Jayden Acker (WLSV), 6-3, 6-3.
2. Ezra Knapp/Henry Decker (FIL) def. Joel Janssen/David Anderson (WLSV), 6-3, 6-2.
