3 advance to state tennis tournament
By Sam Waller
The Albany High School tennis team advanced three of six entries to state at the Region II-2A tournament, which concluded Tuesday, April 11 at Richland Tennis Center in North Richland Hills.
Sarah Cotter, last year’s girls singles state runnerup, returned to state by defeating teammate Sidney Russell in the final. Luke Marshall won the boys singles title to advance.
The top two finishers in each draw at the regional tournament advance to the Class 2A state tournament, scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday, April 26-27 at Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.
In draws where the championship loser and third place winner did not meet in the semifinals, a playback determined the second state qualifier.
Albany had six entries totaling nine athletes competing at the regional tourney, which started Monday, April 11. All six advanced to Tuesday with the lowest finish being fourth place.
“It was an awesome tournament for us,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “Everyone showed up and played so hard. Our goal was for everyone to make it to the second day, and that happened.”
Of the nine players competing, all were still in play on Day 2 of the tournament. Five earned medals by placing in the top three.
In boys doubles, Cooper Fairchild and Luke Ivy finished third. The girls doubles pair of Ella Webb and Susie Cormack and the mixed doubles team of Jaci Chapman and Mikey Hernandez both finished fourth.
Cotter, the top seed, lost just two games in four matches to claim the title. Russell, who was unseeded, defeated second seed Debonne Haynes of Quanah and fourth seed Madeline Lee of Frost to reach the final.
“We were so happy to take first and second,” Reneau said. “Sidney worked her way up there, and Sarah’s had her mind set on state all year. They both did really well.”
Marshall, seeded second, did not lose a game until the final, where he beat third seed Lando Winter of Maud.
“Luke’s a great athlete,” Reneau said. “We’re happy to have him.”
Ivy and Fairchild, who were unseeded, lost to both state qualifiers, falling to eventual champions Layton McAdams and Caden Warren of Seymour in the semifinals and in three sets to top seeds Abel Silvas and Ahlai Don Juan of Quanah in a playback.
Webb and Cormack, seeded third, lost to top seeds and eventual champions Chandler Clark and Jillian Liles of Archer City in the semifinals. A loss to fourth seeds Skyler O’Neal and Caydee Joe Terrell of Quanah in the third place match denied the Albany duo a chance at a playback.
Chapman and Hernandez, who were seeded third, lost to second seeds Ella Riley and Braulio Vizcaino of Quanah in the semifinals before losing to Jarrett Tisdale and Madison Bell of Wolfe City for third place. Tisdale and Bell then won a playback to qualify for state.
Results from regional are as follows:
Girls Singles
Sarah Cotter defeated Jenna Klement, Era, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round; defeated Caylin Williams, Bogata Rivercrest, 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals; defeated Addyson Nichols, Ivanhoe Sam Rayburn, 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals; then defeated Sidney Russell, Albany 6-1, 6-0 in the finals for the championship.
Sidney Russell defeated Zoey Jones, Santo, 6-0, 6-0; defeated Debonne Haynes, Quanah, 5-7, 6-4, 6-0; defeated Madeline Lee, Frost, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals; then lost of Cotter in the finals.
Girls Doubles
Susie Cormack and Ella Webb defeated Kaitlyn Adamson-Ariana Menchaca, Poolville, 6-1, 6-1; defeated Ella Terry-Charlie Phillips, Ivanhoe Sam Rayburn, 6-2, 6-0; lost to Chandler Clark-Jillian Liles, Archer City, 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals; then lost to Skyler O’Neal/Caydee Joe Terrell, Quanah, 6-3, 7-5 to finish fourth.
Boys Singles
Luke Marshall defeated Kannon Dempsey, McLeod, 6-0, 6-0; defeated Will Boles, Valley Mills, 6-0, 6-0; defeated Dwight Don Juan, Quanah, 6-0, 6-1; then defeated Lando Winter, Maud, 6-4, 6-2 in the finals for the championship.
Boys Doubles
Luke Ivy and Cooper Fairchild defeated Javier Guerrero-Brandon Mendoza, Hico, 6-3, 6-4; defeated Joe Polster-John Polster, Hamilton, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; lost to Layton McAdams-Caden Warren, Seymour, 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals; defeated Cavan Armstrong-Harry Martinez, Wolfe City, 6-4, 6-3, for third place; then lost to Abel Silvas-Ahlai Don Juan, Quanah, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a playback.
Mixed Doubles
Jaci Chapman and Mikey Hernandez defeated Molly Fuhrmann-Kane Wolf, Lindsey, 6-2, 6-2; defeated Gentry Rogers-David Alvarado, Frost, 6-2, 6-1; lost to Ella Riley-Braulio Vizcaino, Quanah, 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals; then lost to Jarrett Tisdale-Madison Bell, Wolfe City, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) to finish fourth.
