Second-ranked Thatcher travels to Willcox on Monday, hosts Benson on Tuesday
Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Tristan Burke focuses on returning the ball during a recent singles pairing. The Morenci freshman is in the Wildcats’ No. 6 slot. This week, Morenci visits Pima on Tuesday, March 29, and welcomes Willcox on Thursday, March 31, and Pima on Friday, April 1.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Morenci tennis boys visit Pima on Tuesday, March 29, and host both Willcox on Thursday, March 31, and Pima on Friday, April 1.
The Wildcats had a pair of matches (March 10, March 15) with Elfrida Valley Union canceled, but got in one at Safford, falling 3-6 on March 22.

Other pairings this week include Thatcher at Willcox, Pima hosting Saint David, and Benson at Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic on Monday, March 28; Thatcher hosting Benson, Safford hosting Duncan, and Willcox at Saint David on March 29; Safford is at Benson and Pima at Duncan on Thursday, March 31; and Safford welcomes Miami on April 1.
With less than a month left in the regular season, the Division III – Section I member standings are Thatcher first (3-0 section), Safford second (2-0), Willcox third (3-1), Duncan fourth (1-2), Pima fifth (1-3), Morenci sixth (0-1), and Benson seventh (0-3).
Thatcher (6-1 seeding, 10.4090 rating) is ranked No. 2 of 38 teams, Willcox No. 6 (6-1, 7.9399), Safford No. 18 (3-3, 1.5085), Morenci No. 21 (1-1, minus 0.9189), Pima No. 29 (1-5, minus 3.2231), and Benson No. 36 (0-5, minus 10.7532). Duncan is one of 14 teams unranked because it has less than 10 matches scheduled.

To date, Thatcher has 9-0 wins over Duncan (March 3), Safford (March 9), Miami (March 22), and Pima (March 24); 7-2 over Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (March 2), and over Willcox (March 10); and 6-3 over Tucson’s The Gregory School (March 7). The Eagles have losses of 1-8 to Anthem Prep (March 1) and 2-7 to Chandler Arizona College Prep (March 25).
Willcox shutout Safford 9-0 (Feb. 24), Pima (March 1), Duncan (March 8), and Benson (March 22), defeated Tombstone 8-1 (March 24), and Saint David 6-3 (March 3).
Safford has wins of 7-2 over Queen Creek San Tan Foothills (March 9) and over Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (March 25) plus 6-3 over Pima (March 10) and over Morenci (March 22). The Bulldogs’ other loss was 2-7 to Miami (March 3).
Morenci’s lone win has been 5-4 over Duncan (Feb. 28), Pima’s 6-1 over Benson (March 3), and Duncan’s 6-1 over Benson (March 24).
Benson’s two other losses were 0-9 to Saint David (Feb. 24) and 1-8 to Tucson Desert Christian (March 1) while Pima also lost to Miami twice, 1-8 (March 4) and 3-6 (March 24).

Thatcher is a combined 39-15 (.722) in singles and 20-7 (.741) in doubles during nine matches, Willcox 34-8 (.810) and 18-3 (.857) during seven matches, Safford 15-27 (.357) and 12-9 (.571) during seven matches, Morenci 6-6 (.500) and 2-4 (.333) during two matches, Pima 10-26 (.278) and 4-13 (.235) during six matches, Benson 3-26 (.103) and 0-13 (.000) during five matches, and Duncan 7-16 (.304) and 3-8 (.273) during four matches.
Duncan has five on its team while Benson has four. Morenci’s records include a forfeit win for both singles and doubles, Pima’s a forfeit win plus four forfeit losses in singles and two forfeit losses in doubles, Benson’s eight forfeits in singles and three in doubles, and Duncan’s a forfeit win plus four forfeit wins in singles and four forfeit losses in doubles.

Safford – 6, Morenci – 3
Morenci won three singles pairings. The Wildcats’ No. 1 junior Jarel Diaz, No. 4 Jakob Camacho, and No. 6 freshman Tristan Burke defeated freshman Camden Montierth (6-4, 7-5), freshman Xavier Owens (6-4 twice), and freshman Kyle Lines (7-5, 7-6), respectively.

For Safford, 2-set single wins were by No. 2 sophomore Kody Gluyas over junior Josh Biggs (6-1, 6-0), No. 3 sophomore Thomas Biggs over sophomore Andrew McCallum (6-0, 6-1), and No. 5 sophomore Brayden Bowman over sophomore Ryan Biggs (6-4, 7-5).
The Bulldogs swept the doubles matches, No. 1 Montierth – Gluyas over Diaz – Josh Biggs (8-3), No. 2 Biggs Bowman over McCallum – Camacho (8-2), and No. 3 Owens – Lines over Ryan Biggs – Burke (8-6).