Free State High freshman Michael Swank returns a serve against Leavenworth senior Antonie Cipres. Swank made won his varsity debut Thursday a FSHS.

Free State sophomore Blaine Kaehr returns a serve during a doubles match with partner Charlie Moffet.

A day after Michael Swank finished his junior high tennis season, he was back out on the Free State High courts to compete in his first high school varsity meet.

Swank didn’t need any kind of break before his debut against Leavenworth – he even mentioned that he played two basketball games following the junior high meet – as he picked up an 8-1 victory Thursday. And, impressively, it came in the No. 1 singles match.

“It wasn’t that bad. (I’ve) been playing tennis forever, so (I) went out there and did what I’ve been doing for years,” said Swank, following Free State’s 9-0 sweep of Leavenworth. “It felt good. I was swinging out, which felt really good. My serves were clicking, and I was hitting some good winners. It just felt good to be out there and be hitting.”

Swank was quick to admit to his teammates that the game he lost – the eighth – was due to the fact that he “fell asleep on the court.”

“I just got bored,” said Swank, who has played in the national rankings of the United States Tennis Association. “I guess you could say that I wasn’t really paying attention and didn’t focus.”

While Swank snoozed away one game, sophomore Blaine Kaehr was wide-awake for the entirety of his No. 4 singles match. Kaehr didn’t lose a game en route to an 8-0 victory and maintained his undefeated season – now 8-0 in singles play.

“There were parts within my game where I hit some shots I shouldn’t have,” Kaehr said. “Other than that, I just played better than he did and got the ball back.”

But before playing singles, Kaehr paired with Charlie Moffet in the No. 1 doubles – the first time the two have teamed together – and won the match, 8-3, allowing Kaehhr to remain undefeated in doubles, too, 4-0.

“I’m actually still experimenting a tiny bit, trying to make certain as we head into league next week and regionals the following week that we’ve got the best pairings possible,” Free State coach Jon Renberger said. “But I thought they (Kaehr and Moffet) looked strong, and I’m planning on going with them as a doubles team this Saturday at Junction City. And depending on how that goes, that could be how we’re looking in terms of the No. 1 doubles.”

Renberger doesn’t plan to play Swank in doubles.

Kaehr was continually giving Swank, whom he referred to as “the rookie,” grief over the game he lost. He said he saw plenty of potential from the freshman in singles play.

“I think he’ll be great. I think probably state qualifier,” Kaehr said. “But he’ll definitely help the team; he won’t hurt us at all. : He’s the best player at Free State, so he deserves the (No. 1) spot.”

With Swank making his debut in the No. 1 slot, Moffet moved down to the No. 2 singles. The move didn’t effect Moffet much in his 8-2 victory.

Jack Hull had a slow start in the No. 3 singles, but eventually went on to win 8-3. He also claimed an 8-3 victory in the No. 2 doubles with Patrick Spurgeon – who won the No. 5 singles 8-1.

Cameron Casady finished off the singles sweep in the No. 6 match up with an 8-2 victory, while Mitch Morrow and Matt Smysor were 8-2 winners at No. 3 doubles.