By Cort Reynolds

PORT CLINTON – The Bluffton senior tandem of Grady Coonfare and Isaiah Kohli finished fourth in the Northwest District Div. II tennis doubles tournament at Port Clinton on Saturday, May 23.

By virtue of winning two matches on day one of the tournament, the Pirate pair advanced to the district semifinals and qualified for the state tourney next week in Mason.

On Saturday in the semifinals, the duo lost to the eventual district champion doubles team of Tony Palmer and Cooper Remi from Lexington by a 6-0, 6-0 count.

In the consolation round match later on Saturday, Coonfare and Kohli were beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Willard seniors Levi Schag and Mason Dawson to finish fourth.

The tandem played singles most of this spring season, with Coonfare usually in the number one spot and Kohli at two, but they combined forces for a doubles tournament run.

In the round of 16 on Thursday, the Pirate pair defeated the Ontario tandem of Justin Switaj and Henry Rugovich 6-0, 6-2.

Then in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the Bluffton duo had to rally to win in three sets 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 over Port Clinton senior Kai Weit and sophomore Evan Lovitt.

“They won the second match in a thrilling third set,” Pirate head coach Dave Roby noted. “Very proud and happy for them both.”

Any singles player or doubles team that finished in the top four at the NW Div. II district automatically qualified for the state tournament on May 28-29 in Mason at the Lindner Tennis Center.

Coonfare and Kohli are the first Bluffton boys tennis players to advance to the state event.

“These two young men have worked very hard over the last four years to achieve this awesome accomplishment,” said Roby. “I’m very proud of them and to have been a small part of their journey over the last four years. They deserve every bit of this with their hard work and motivation. So happy for them.”

As a fourth-place finisher at the district level, the Pirate duo will face a number-one seeded district champion in their opening round of 16 match at the state tournament.