Siloam Springs tennis coach Scott Wright believes the resurgence that the Panthers' boys tennis program has enjoyed over the last two seasons actually got its start four years ago.
That was the fall of 2013 when two freshmen, Kip Dooley and Noah Slater, teamed up for the first time in doubles.
"I put them together because they were freshmen," Wright said, "and I thought they'd have the chance to develop. Within two weeks they took over the No. 2 doubles spot and they were challenging the No. 1s."
To the surprise of many, Dooley and Slater wound up qualifying for the 2013 Class 6A State Tennis Tournament as freshman after previously advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament.
They missed the state cut as sophomores, but rebounded as juniors to qualify for state and were part of the Panthers' Class 6A state runner-up team in 2015.
The 2016 tennis season has been another successful run for seniors Dooley and Slater. They advanced to the finals of the 6A-West Conference Tournament on Tuesday of this last week, where they were defeated by Greenwood's team of Paxton Evans and Kenny Sweeny 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Earlier that day, Dooley and Slater defeated Wade Bradford and Tyler Dawson of Texarkana 7-5, 7-5 to reach the finals.
Siloam Springs, as a team, finished as 6A-West Conference runner-up and the Panthers will be looking for another strong finish at the Class 6A State Tournament on Monday and Tuesday of this week at Allen Park in Jonesboro.
"Our boys program has really taken off," said Wright, who admits the program has benefited from some key transfers and foreign exchange students, including junior standout Orest Los, who transferred in two years ago from the Ukraine, played on last year's state runner-up team and will compete in singles this week at the state tournament. Igor Jacociunas, an exchange student last year from Brazil, won the 6A individual singles state title in his only season in 2015, and the Panthers have yet another exchange student this year, Moritz Hayler from Germany, who will play doubles with Oliver Reid this week at state after qualifying last week in the conference tournament.
But through it all has been the constant of Dooley and Slater.
"These two have been here all four years," Wright said of Dooley and Slater. "The kick-off moment that got our boys program going was when they made the semifinals of the conference tournament their freshman year and made the state tournament. They really showed what they were capable of doing. It got our boys program going in the right direction. Before then, we would have an individual here or there who would make noise."
Dooley and Slater have certainly learned each other's strengths after playing together the last four years.
"One of (Dooley's) strengths is he can hit longer ground strokes," Slater said. "He can sit and rally with them. When he's back rallying with them, my net play can work out well. My height (6-foot-4) is an advantage. Both our serves paired with each other work really well."
Dooley agrees with his teammate.
"His serve is really good," Dooley said, "and it works well when I can be at the back and he can use his height at the net to finish the point."
Because they advanced to the finals of the conference tournament, Dooley and Slater will receive a first-round bye in the state tournament on Monday.
Los and the doubles team of Mortiz and Hayler will all have to play first round games on Monday.
Los reached the semifinals of the conference tournament last week, where he was defeated by eventual conference champion Greenwood's Andrew Anderson 6-4, 6-2. Los then lost to Woody Woodring of Greenwood 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in the third-place game.
"Orest, I thought on day one (on Monday) he was better than anybody," Wright said. "Day two he probably didn't play quite as well. He's had a really good season. He's capable of competing with anybody he's going to play in the 6A state tournament."
After going 1-1 on Monday, Hayler and Reid rebounded on Tuesday to win an elimination match against Nathan Oliver and Blake Thornton of El Dorado 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 to advance to the state tournament. Hayler and Reid then lost to Greenwood's Johnny Tammaruth and Carson Loyd 6-2, 6-2 in a seedings match.
"Mo and Oliver, I tell you what, those guys have come a long way since the beginning," Wright said. "When they started you could see it coming along. They've held that No. 2 doubles spot all year. Oliver has been with us for two years. He's shown tremendous improvement. Mo coming in as foreign exchange has been a blessing. They've had an incredible season as well."
Siloam Springs No. 2 singles player, senior Chad Hall saw his season come to an end Tuesday in the conference tournament, losing an elimination match to Russellville's Hake 6-2, 6-1.
Sports on 10/16/2016