The Platte County tennis program applied for a $10,000 facilities enrichment grant in a contest sponsored by 610 Sports Radio of Kansas City and Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 2. In an ongoing effort to fund tennis courts for the high school, Platte County officials have sought out multiple grant opportunities to put toward what would likely be a pricey project. The Help My MoKan School contest is open to high schools in a 30-county region spread across two states.
Platte County won last year’s contest for its theatre program.
This year, 22 schools applied as of Tuesday, April 28, and the public is urged to go to www.helpmymokanschool.com and comment on the applications of the most deserving projects. Platte County’s tennis program, which began in 2008, continues to operate with minimal practice space and no home events each season.
The team utilizes a pair of courts constructed on campus in 1976 and those in the Seven Bridges Subdivision at a rental cost for afternoon practices, but neither meet the requirements to host home duals.
“Bottom line, the entire tennis team is unable to practice together as a team,” the online essay for the tennis program says.
Platte County officials attempted to fund the courts through a 2012 tax levy proposal, which failed. West Platte also applied looking for funding for an upstart drafting program. The application indicates plans to combine a traditional, mechanical drawing class with one that evolves into using a computer-aided drafting program.
Nominations are open until Friday, May 1, and the winner will be announced on air next week.
Truman Invitational
Platte County finished fourth out of eight teams on Friday, April 24 in Independence, Mo. The four-flight tournament featured two singles and two doubles entrants from each team.
Brody Nordike and Connor St. Louis led the individual finishes with a third-place showing in the B doubles bracket. Parker Ward took fourth in A singles, while Spencer Kunz was fifth in B singles. Andy Day and Zach Regan were sixth in A doubles.
Platte County 8, Staley 1
The Pirates won their third straight in a self-proclaimed rivalry matchup Wednesday, April 22 at North Kansas City District Activities Complex in Kansas City, Mo.
Staley and Platte County both started their tennis programs in the 2008-2009 season. Platte County now owns a 5-3 all-time record against the Falcons with seniors St. Louis and Nordike recording a critical 11-10 (7-5) tiebreaker victory at No. 3 doubles. The Pirates led 3-0 after the first portion of the matchup and went on to dominate singles as well.
Day won 10-2 at No. 3 singles, and Ward closed the match with a 10-3 win at the top spot. He won his third straight singles match, while No. 2 Kunz improved to a team-best 7-1 on the season.
Platte County 8, Belton 1
Platte County swept the season series with the purple Pirates with the win Thursday, April 23 in Belton, Mo.
Ward and Kunz opened with a dominating victory at No. 1 doubles, while Day and Zach Regan and Nordike and Jack Lawver scored comeback wins at the other two spots. Platte County then went 5-1 in singles matches to win a fourth straight dual, improving to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in Suburban Conference Blue Division play.
Platte County beat Belton 9-0 in the first meeting.