The Baldwin boys tennis team lost 3-2 versus Trinity on Thursday.

Senior Laeth Salih said the Highlanders did not start well.

“We started slowly, losing the first two matches, but then we built up our confidence and finished strong.” Salih said. 

When the team struggles, they try to keep up morale and have a next play mentality.

“We just need to keep focus – let mistakes be mistakes and not let them get to us,” Salih said. 

Trinity did very well pressuring Baldwin, which led to mistakes being made, senior Carter Smeal said.

Senior Nikita Petruk and Smeal got the wins for Baldwin. They won their matches by pushing back against Trinity attacks and playing consistently, Smeal said.

Smeal was one of the best players on Thursday, according to Salih.

“He struggled a bit but bounced back,” Salih said. 

Smeal said the team as a whole could work on consistency and finishing points. He said it was tough to lose a close matchup, but it gives the team more confidence for their future matchups. 

The next matchup is against Woodland Hills on Monday.