photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Jack Bauch looks on during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

Topeka – Building a winning reputation early, the Lawrence High boys tennis squad kept pushing forward Wednesday, as two doubles pairings and one singles player earned winning records at the Topeka West quad.

Both of LHS’ doubles pairings, senior Logan Daniels and junior Josh Labin; junior Jun Brewer and sophomore Jack Bauch, walked away with 2-1 finishes after battles with Washburn Rural, Seaman and Topeka West.

Paired together unexpectedly, Brewer and Bauch competed side by side for their first-ever match on Wednesday, defeating T-West’s combo of Butch Graham and Julian Ramcharan (8-0) and cruising past Seaman’s Noah Andrews and Austin Bramlett (8-3).

Rural’s duo of Lawson Labatos and Dylan Willingham upended the LHS pair’s run in the final match of the day (4-8).

“We definitely need to work on communication and going about playing with the energy we bring onto the court,” Bauch said.

Brewer joined Bauch, who spent his freshman season as a key asset on the Lions’ singles team, in varsity doubles this spring after moving to Lawrence from Japan this school year.

“Since we’re both kind of not like real doubles players, we could kind of adjust our playing styles and do that more further in,” Brewer said.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Jun Brewer serves up the ball during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Jack Bauch returns a serve during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Jack Bauch and Jun Brewer smile after winning their first round at the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

The Lions’ older pairing of Daniels and Labin replicated Brewer and Bauch’s start, opening play with two wins over Topeka West’s Ayden Gore and Kolby Johnson (8-4) and Seaman’s Dayton Schneider and Donavon Schneider (8-2).

Daniels and Labin fell just short of a third victory in their final match with Washburn Rural’s Cale Deutscher and Brayden Kohls (5-8).

Off to a similarly hot start in singles, Asher Sikes picked up consecutive victories over Topeka West’s Peyton Collette (8-2) and Seaman’s Gavin Dutton (8-1) before falling to Washburn Rural’s Dylan Dodge (8-1) in his final match.

This season, Sikes is adjusting to life on the singles court full time after spending his sophomore campaign bouncing between singles and doubles for the Lions.

“Every season I kind of have to work up to my best,” Sikes said. “… I feel like I’m always reminded how much of a mental game it is. You have to stay physically fit, but you also have to stay focused, so that’s always something you relearn every year.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Asher Sikes returns a serve during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Xavier Klish fires off a serve during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Logan Daniels gets set for a return shot during the Topeka West quadrangular on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

In the second round of singles, LHS junior Xavier Klish finished his day 1-2, picking up a win over Topeka West’s Will Hitch.

LHS returns home with Free State, Olathe East and Shawnee Mission Northwest on Thursday at Rock Chalk Park. Matches are set for 3 p.m.