Today starts a busy week for the Helias boys tennis team.
The Crusaders travel to Kansas City to play Barstow in the Class 2 team state quarterfinals. The dual is slated to start at 4 p.m.
Helias (17-2) won the District 5 Tournament to advance to the state tournament. The Crusaders picked up a 5-0 semifinal win last Tuesday against Jefferson City, then topped Capital City 5-1 in Wednesday’s title dual, both at the Crusader Athletic Complex.
Helias’ two dual losses came against Rock Bridge and Parkway West. Rock Bridge is playing today at Marquette in the Class 3 quarterfinals, while Parkway West -- which won a doubles-only dual against Helias -- fell to Priory in the Class 2 District 3 final.
Barstow (11-2-2) won the District 7 Tournament last week, defeating Webb City 5-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal and blanking Thomas Jefferson Independent 5-0 in Wednesday’s championship dual.
The Knights’ dual losses came against Priory and Pembroke Hill. They tied against Park Hill South and Blue Valley North (Kan.).
Barstow won the Class 1 state championship last season for the program’s first state title.
The winner of today’s dual advances to the Class 2 Final Four, where it awaits a semifinal matchup against either Cape Girardeau Central (9-6) or Priory (11-0) on May 27 at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.
After today’s dual, Helias’ tennis season continues Thursday in Springfield for the Class 2 individual state championships. Ethan Foucheaux will be one of 16 players vying for a state singles title, while Andrew Dowden and Caleb Mueller will compete in the state doubles tournament for the Crusaders.