GLADSTONE — The Iron Mountain Mountaineers defeated the Gladstone Braves 8-0 in a tennis match Monday afternoon in Gladstone.

“I am extremely pleased with today’s performance,” said Mountaineers coach Marcus Celello. “Our No. 2 doubles had to move up to No. 1 doubles, and then our No. 2 doubles players moved into No. 3 and No. 4 singles. So, this was not our normal lineup, either.”

The shifting lineup was due to multiple factors, said Celello, one of them being the small Gladstone roster for this season.

David Juul earned the win at No. 1 singles for Iron Mountain (6-0, 6-0) over Gladstone’s Chad Britton. At the only doubles contest, No. 1 doubles, the Mountaineers pair of Lucas Kassin and Andrew Larsen defeated Max Wilson and Gideon Barron (6-1, 6-2).

With only six players in action for Gladstone, the match consisted of all four levels of singles and just No. 1 doubles.

Overall, Celello is happy with how his team performed Monday as well as how they are coming together early in the season.

“We’re feeling pretty food,” he said. “We’re very young. We have three upperclassmen, all three being seniors and one of them is currently injured. Otherwise, we’re all freshman and sophomores, many who are picking up a racket for the first time this year.

“So, it’s a process. It’s going to be quite the growing experience for everybody, but I’m really proud of the guys for giving their best every day, and they’re improving very quickly. Sol, I think we have a bright future, we’re just going to have some bumps in the road along the way.”

For the six Braves members, the small squad has presented several challenges. Through thick and thin, coach Ryan Barron is proud of his team.

“It has been an interesting season, to say the least,” Barron said. “Having a small team is a challenge, we are always fighting an uphill battle coming into each meet. We are trying to make the most of each and every meet.”

The name of the game this year for Gladstone is to get better with every day they hit the court.

“I tell the guys, take one thing from each practice or meet and improve on that one thing, by the end of the season we will be right where we need to be,” commented Barron. “I’m proud of the guys for sticking with it and scrapping for each and every point.”

Singles

No. 1 — Juul, IM def. Chad Britton, G, 6-0 , 6-0; No. 2 — Ryan, IM def. Hedman, G, 6-1 , 6-1; No. 3 — Sampoll-Torres, IM def. Fee, G, 6-2 , 6-1; No. 4 — Lindgren, IM def. Wicklund, G, 6-0 , 6-0.

Doubles

No. 1 — Kassin-Larsen, IM def. Wilson-Barron, G, 6-1 , 6-2.