COLUMBUS -- Colton Buffington faced three opponents Friday. He beat the heat and two challengers.
Westlake sophomore Colton Buffington returns a shot to Ruben Geearaet, a junior from Centerville, in the morning round of the Division I boys tournament Friday in Columbus. Buffington won, 6-1, 6-0.
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(Impactactionphotos.com)
COLUMBUS -- Colton Buffington faced three opponents Friday.
He beat the heat and two challengers.
Battling the sweltering conditions at Ohio State's Stickney Tennis Center, the Westlake sophomore took care of junior Ruben Geearaet of Centerville, 6-1, 6-0, in the morning round of the Division I boys tournament. With the heat of the day bearing down in the afternoon, he was more impressive in holding off rival Nicky Wong of Lexington in three scorching sets, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
Buffington, 16, admitted the future did not look bright when he was down, 2-0, with Wong serving in the third game.
"This isn't good is what I was thinking," said Buffington, who defeated Wong earlier this season. "I had to make some big plays. He returns really far back and I took advantage of it."
Rallying to break Wong for a 6-5 lead, Buffington won it on four straight points, finishing it with an ace.
"At 5-4, I was supposed to hold serve. At 5-5 it was time to be aggressive. I was in shape and he was slowing down. In between [matches] I sat in the air-conditioning in the car. I didn't come out until 10 minutes before."
All the two-match winners had to deal with the conditions as best they could.
Cloverleaf senior Ethan Dunbar did it by shortening his Division I matches against Mason freshman Miguel Cepeda (6-0, 6-1) and Thomas Worthington junior Casey Cempre (6-1, 6-3). Dunbar had his first serve working most of the time.
"Aces are free points and that's good in the heat," said Dunbar, who stands 35-0 on the season. "I like the heat actually. I moved my feet and played pretty well."
Dunbar will face senior Kevin Metka from Worthington Kilbourne in today's semifinals.
"I don't mind waiting," he said. "I'm excited to get back out there."
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy junior Alex Aleman will be out there today to take on talented junior Chris Diaz from Columbus Bishop Watterson. Aleman, part of CVCA's Division II state doubles champions, had that bushed look after plugging through for wins against junior Mason Bourbon of Cincinnati Wyoming (6-2, 6-2) and senior Ben Brocker of Poland Seminary (6-4, 6-3).
"I was drinking a ton and it was hard to play in it," said Aleman. "It was hard to breathe. Brutal. It was hard for everyone. I've been pushing myself. I can't get tired for the second match of the day. I was pleased with the way I served."
CVCA will go for its second straight doubles title with the brother combination of Lou and Will Konstan, the latter replacing Aleman. After taking care of Kettering Alter in the morning, the Konstans handled the University School duo of senior Nick Smedira and sophomore Billy Lennon, 6-3, 6-4.
"We're halfway there and to make it to the second day is a blessing," said Lou Konstan. "You get lightheaded and kind of distracted with the heat. We were definitely in shape. We did pretty good at poaching, picking off points."
Northeast Ohio players suffered their share of disappointment during the one-and-done day.
After winning their Division II morning match, Beachwood senior doubles Mark Goldberg and Ricky Bortz had their season come to an end as Gahanna Columbus Academy won decisively, 6-1, 6-1.
Goldberg, the runner-up in doubles (2008) and singles last year, poured out his emotions for a few minutes as he was consoled by his father and coach, Gregg. He will continue his tennis career next year at Lehigh University.
Also in Division II doubles, Hawken School seniors David Gerson and Charlie Marx, along with the Bay duo of Curtis Lockhart and Peter Scanniella, lost their opening matches.
Junior Sam Ubersax from Orange lost his Division II singles opener.
In Division I singles, juniors Tommy Marx and David Gabriel, both from Shaker Heights, along with junior Nolan Marks from Kenston were eliminated in the opening round.
The Walsh Jesuit pairing of juniors Garrett Cona and Matt Spittler handled Hilliard Davidson in the morning, but were ousted by Toledo St. John's during a three-set afternoon struggle, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 7-5. Hudson's Steven Boslet and Patrick O'Hanlan won their opener, but could not get past Upper Arlington.
Both of Solon's tandems, Andrew Branstetter-Liam O'Brien and Evan Schrode-Zach Singerman, dropped morning matches.
The semifinals begin at 9 a.m.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168