By Cort Reynolds
LIMA __Ada junior Nathan Williams won his first three singles matches in straight sets at the Div. II UNOH sectionals in Lima to qualify for the Port Clinton districts next week.
Seeded third in the 30-player singles flight, the southpaw defeated Bath’s Carter Deppe 6-1, 6-2 in his first match Thursday.
In the round of 16, he knocked out Elida’s Alex Dunahay 6-1, 6-3.
Then in the quarterfinals, Williams eliminated Noah White of St. Marys 6-3, 6-2. This clinched a spot in the final four and thus qualified him for district competition.
On Saturday in the semifinals, he lost to top seed Isaac Wibbeler of St. Marys 6-4, 6-2.
CONTINUES
Then in the third-place match Saturday, he fell to fourth seed Eben Jackson of Elida by a 6-2, 6-2 count.
Wibbeler lost in the sectional championship match 6-2, 6-3 to second-seeded St. Marys teammate Cody Birt.
Sporting a 12-5 season record, Williams will be a fourth seed in the PC district draw.
The other Ada participants all lost their first round matches at the Lima sectionals.
Bulldog sophomore Justin Bowden fell to Jack Zhang of Celina 6-1, 6-1. Freshman Brandon Prater lost to Celina’s Rylan Chapman 6-0, 6-0.
Bulldogs Luke Archer and Josh Thaxton were defeated in the doubles first round to Ollie Chisholm and Jak Ackroyd of St. Mary’s.
Ada freshman Lawson Klingler and senior Jesse Okuly fell to the LCC duo of Cole Rinehart and Noah Wilson.
A top-four finish in singles or doubles at sectionals qualifies a player or tandem to the district tournament.
