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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net

Coming into Thursday's season opener at Independence, Arkansas City boys tennis coach Aaron O'Donnell was confident of his team's abilities.

Even with the losses of back-to-back Class 5A state doubles champions Boomer Saia and Reid Bauer, in addition to Hassan Shahzada and Michael Sturd -- all to graduation -- O'Donnell believed his new group of players could step up and continue where last year's team left off.

It might be just the first tournament of the season, but the new group of Bulldogs certainly lived up to O'Donnell's expectations on Thursday.

Ark City placed second in the round-robin tournament. It went 3-1 against Labette, Parsons and Fort Scott in and 1-3 against Independence.

"They stepped up to the competition," O'Donnell said. "I expected them to play better than average. They did what was expected."

Independence won the team title.

Michael Kahm and Jarrod Bryant tied for first at No. 2 doubles. Their only loss came to Parsons. Kahm and Bryant were ahead 2-0, but the match had to be stopped because Bryant had to be taken to a local hospital with an outbreak of hives. He was released from the hospital shortly after receiving two shots, and the doctor subsequently cleared him to play.

After play resumed, Parsons rallied to defeat Kahm and Bryant. But O'Donnell was quick to praise their efforts, especially for Bryant, who was competing in his first career varsity tournament.

"That was the best he ever played in a competitive tournament," O'Donnell said.

David Rippe and Jeremiah Johnson took second at No. 1 doubles, winning three of four matches. Their only loss was an 8-5 defeat to an Independence duo that placed sixth in doubles at last year's Class 4A state tournament.

"That was probably the most exciting match of the whole tournament," O'Donnell said. "They brought out the best tennis in (Rippe and Johnson)."

Daniel Byers also placed second, winning three of four matches at No. 2 doubles. All three of his wins were one-sided, winning by scores of 8-1, 8-1 and 8-2. His only loss came to an Independence player that was one half of last year's 4A state doubles champion.

"He did a really good job," O'Donnell said of Byers. "He didn't mess around with the other three opponents."

In his varsity singles debut, Travis Bailey went 1-3 at No. 1 singles. His lone win came against an opponent from Parsons.

"I thought that he controlled his nerves very well," O'Donnell said.