BUCYRUS (Crawford County Now) — One point separated the top four teams in the 2026 Sam Sabback Invitational Tennis Invitational at Bucyrus High School.
Pleasant took the top spot with nine points, edging Galion, Ontario, and Willard, each with eight. Four points were awarded for first place matches, three for second, two for third and one for fourth.
“What started out as a questionable morning for tennis, turned into a beautiful, albeit, hot day for our Sabback Doubles Invitational,” Bucyrus coach Kris Knodell said. “The 8 teams battled in some very close matches making for a long day of great tennis. When all was said and done, Pleasant came away as the team champion, edging Willard, Galion and Ontario by 1 point.”
The Spartans’ duo of Marvich and Bradac defeated Holt and Dye of Galion, 8-6. Pleasant got three points with a second-place finish in second doubles. Rigsby and Hensel fell in the final, 8-5, to Schuster and Gray of Ontario.
The Warriors also won first doubles. The tandem of Dawson and Schwartz defeated Willard’s Schag and Martinus, 8-3.
Shelby captured third doubles. The Whippets’ Barrera and Keller topped Galion’s Blue and Tackett, 8-5. Shelby also got third place in second doubles. Keller and Howell slipped past Willard’s Ramos and Fox, 8-7.
Bucyrus and Clear Fork were both shut out. Lady Red first doubles team of Weber and Clark fell just short to Pleasant’s Patel and Jordan, 8-7. Second doubles of Rothhaar and Messerschmidt lost to Shelby’s Keller and Howell, 8-2. In third doubles, Engelhorn and Potts went down to Blue and Tackett of Galion, 8-1.
“The game play and sportsmanship were a great way to honor Sam,” Knodell said. “He would have been excited to watch solid doubles play today, but he may have questioned why we held the Invitational during the Buckeyes opening day.”
The coach also credited his support staff for facilitating the tournament.
“Thank you to all that came out and supported our girls and a special thank you to my wife, Shelley, for running the invite with the assistance of one of our team members, Meelah Marshall,” Knodell said. “They did a fantastic job.”
Team totals
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