Pam Pack look to continue boys’ tennis success

Published 9:41 pm Sunday, May 4, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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The Washington High School boys’ tennis team has seen its fair share of success this season.

Micah Whitley won the Eastern Plains Conference singles tournament title and was named the conference’s player of the year. Whitley beat Gabe Niederhauser, another Pam Pack star who has excelled while also playing on the school’s golf team. Then there’s Braden Smithwick and Josh Dominguez, who were just recently paired in doubles and have achieved quick success.

Each of them took their talents to the Class 2A East Regionals, which were played Friday and Saturday. Their play there will determine their placement and advancement to the Class 2A state championships next weekend.

“They all know each other, they’re friends and stuff like that. They clown around and horse around with each other. So, all in all, it’s been a pretty good, enjoyable, fun season,” said David Allewalt, who is also the school’s boys’ basketball coach and who played tennis professionally before getting into teaching.

Whitley said he got off to a slow start and was a little rusty, but quickly bounced back and returned to the form that helped him achieve his success this season.

“Overall, it’s been a pretty successful year,” Whitley said. “I’d say the hardest match was against Greene Central, and I was able to beat them, so that gave me a bit of an ego boost. I had to face my own teammate in the (EPC) finals, which was pretty fun.

“I think individually, I’ve gotten more consistent and been able to control where my shots have gone way better, along with my serve. It was rusty at the beginning of the season because I hadn’t played since last year. Ever since then, I’ve put in more work, and I think I’ve gotten better as the season went on and played more.”

Smithwick and Dominquez had different doubles partners during the season until sickness forced a revamp of the lineup. Once the two got together, they performed well enough to not only have success in the EPC tournament — finishing third — but also qualify for regionals.

“Well, our season … it’s been a season of growth, I feel like,” Smithwick said. “I haven’t played, and I took like a year last year and played baseball. And so this is my first time picking up tennis again since my sophomore year.

“But kind of jumped around doubles teams, and then my original doubles partner got sick the day of the conference tournament. And so Josh and I have played, and I feel like we meshed very well. We kind of fought through adversity and were able to come out with multiple victories to put us in third place for that.”

Smithwick described Dominguez as someone who “fights to get to every single ball.” Dominguez said Smithwick works hard to get as many points as possible, making them a true workhorse team that gives it their all throughout the match.

“His partner got sick, so I had to get paired up with him,” Dominguez said of Smithwick. Honestly, I think it was the best adjustment because, honestly, I got saved because, you know, number six (in singles) is not the best in the group.

“But, you know, I tried to get it done. He plays aggressive, and I play consistent. So it works out in the end because, you know, we just have a great dynamic, honestly.”

Allewalt also praised Niederhauser for his overall athleticism to play two sports in the spring and his drive to want to be good in both.

“Gabe’s done a really, really, really good job,” Allewalt said. “You know, he’s not a full-time in golf and he’s not full-time in tennis. If he were to pick one or the other, then he probably would excel more so than what he is already.

“So, what he’s given us this year and how he plays has been remarkable, in my opinion. Because, like, we just had a state game and we’ve got things to work on and he’s got a golf match today, so he doesn’t get a chance to work on what he needs to do to be better tomorrow.

“So, that’s unfortunate, but I also appreciate the fact that he’s playing as many sports as he can because you don’t get an opportunity to rewind a clock in high school.”

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