ST. LOUIS - The Helias boys tennis team began the Class 1 state tournament with a 5-2 sectional win Saturday morning, but the Crusaders suffered their first loss of the season during the afternoon, falling to MICDS 5-0.
In doubles against Kirksville, Jack Loehr and Andrew Case won 8-2 and John Christianson and Justin Francka won 8-3. Jacob Cowley and Jacob Schepers lost 3-8.
Winning in singles for Helias were Case (6-0, 6-0), Francka (6-3, 6-2) and Loehr (6-2, 6-1) to clinch the win. Schepers fell 1-6, 1-6.
Helias went 0-3 in doubles against MICDS. Schepers and Cowley lost 0-8, Loehr and Case lost 1-8 and Christianson and Francka lost 2-8.
In singles, Schepers lost 2-6, 1-6 and Christianson lost 2-6, 0-6.
Helias finished the season with a record of 14-1, best in school history.
Loehr and Case will compete in the Class 1 state doubles tournament, which begins Friday at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.