Free State High’s boys tennis team dominated Monday’s dual with Lawrence High at Lawrence Tennis Center, yet no player was more dominant than LHS senior Scott Elwell.

The Firebirds won, 7-2, and Elwell was the reason they didn’t sweep.

He and LHS senior Galo Salcedo teamed for an 8-5 No. 1 doubles victory against Free State’s Ben Cropp and Alan Martinez, then Elwell pounded Cropp in No. 1 doubles, 8-0.

“Oh, yeah, I was a lot more fired up today,” Elwell said. “I didn’t want to give up a point.”

It showed. Cropp did take a few points, but never seriously made a run at winning. A stiff cross-court wind didn’t affect Elwell’s serve, which was too much for Cropp.

“When it’s working like that, it gives you a lot more confidence in the rest of your game,” Elwell said.

Still, the Firebirds pair played well, especially since it was their first outing together this season. Cropp and Martinez usually only play singles.

“We’ve played in practice,” Martinez said. “And we played pretty well, but Scott can carry a team when he’s serving like that.”

Besides, the rest of Free State’s doubles teams were fabulous.

Eyad Safadi and Matt Schwabauer hammered Jeff Craig and Tyler Lewis, 8-0; and Eric Sheu and Bryan Maygers beat James Garito and Martin Vertacnik, 8-1.

FSHS coach Jon Renberger said those doubles teams probably would be the Firebirds’ one and two doubles squads the rest of the season, and Cropp and Martinez would focus on singles.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way doubles has turned out,” Renberger said. “I feel really good about them and with Cropp and No. 1 and Martinez at No. 2.”

And though the Lions didn’t come up with many wins, coach Dick Wedel continues to be pleased with the way his squad has improved this year.

“Like Martina Navratilova says, ‘You have to love the game because the results won’t always go your way,'” Wedel said. “And we’ll be glad to get rid of those five seniors for Free State.”