The Mount Si Wildcat boys’ tennis team opened Oct. 9 with a loss to Sammamish. The Totems swept all nine contests played.

There were two great efforts in defeat by Mount Si in singles. Derek Aldrich won his first set 6-1 against Ravish Kana. Aldrich gave it his best in the next two sets, but fell 4-6, 3-6 and lost the match to his Totems opponent. And after falling 1-6 in his first set against Sammamish’s Arnie Gagnidze, the Wildcats’ Kyle Tjoseem forced a deciding third set by winning the second stanza 6-3. Tjoseem, however, fell 1-6 in that third set.

Issac Farrar and Kevin Sandin gave their doubles opponents, the Totems’ Chad Nunn and Mike Mantell, a bit of a run in the second set, but the Mount Si duo fell 2-6, 6-7 (5-7 tiebreak).

The Wildcats were swept again in all nine matches Oct. 11 by Issaquah. Stephen Salmon, in singles action, was the bright spot as he won his first set against the Eagles’ Tyler Buckingham 6-4. Buckingham rallied and won the next two sets and the match. All other matches were two-set routs in favor of Issaquah.

In doubles action, Farrar and Nick Schawrzmiller gave their Issaquah opponents a bit of a scare, but the Wildcat pair fell 3-6, 4-6 to Issaquah’s Connor Olson and Blake Thompson.

There was one exhibition match, which also went to the Eagles.

The Kingco tournament begins this weekend and continues through next week at the University of Washington. The Sea-King district tournament occurs next spring should any Mount Si players advance. Look for seniors Bryce Wilson and Derek Aldrich to lead the way, and possibly Salmon, considering his strong year, to make waves as well.