Albany tennis claims title at Vernon Invitational

By Sam Waller

Playing with its full lineup for the first time, the Albany tennis team claimed one title and four other medals Monday, March 3 at the Vernon Invitational.

After taking this week off for spring break, Albany returns to action Tuesday, March 18 at the Abilene High tournament.

At Vernon, Albany’s Mimi Ivy and Cade Fairchild won their second mixed doubles title of the season, again defeating teammates Abi Hale and Jake Hale in the final. In boys singles, Aiden Vickers was second in the White Bracket, while Casey Estridge was second and Slayten Kelly won consolation in the Gray Bracket.

“It was another strong week for our mixed doubles and I was glad to see some of our boys singles medal at the first tournament they went to,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “We’re preparing for district and getting some good competition at these bigger tournaments.”

Albany has tournaments remaking before the District 10-2A tourney April 21-22 at Abilene’s Rose Park Tennis Center.

“We need one more boys doubles, so some of boys singles will have to team up,” Reneau said. “We’re seeing how they do at these tournaments and who would be a good fit since none of them have played together before.”

Ivy and Fairchild went 3-0 at Vernon with the Hales, Vickers, Estridge and Kelly each winning two matches. The boys doubles team of Jaxson Street and Braeten Street and the girls doubles team of Finlee Brown and Charli Trail each won their consolation semifinal matches.

Vernon Invitational

Boys

Singles

Gray Bracket

Casey Estridge def. Holliday, 8-1; def. Woodson, 8-1 in semifinal; lost to Stamford 2-8 in championship.

Slayten Kelly lost to Stamford 0-8; def. Vernon Northside, 8-2 in consolation semifinal; def. Holliday, 8-2 in consolation final.

White Bracket

Aiden Vickers def. Vernon, 8-6; def. Wichita Falls, 8-3 in semifinal; lost to Stamford, 6-8 in championship.

Doubles

Jaxson Street-Braeten Street lost to Vernon, 2-8; def. Wichita Falls Legacy, 8-4 in consolation semifinal; lost to Holliday, 3-8 in consolation final.

Girls

Singles

Hattie Braly lost to Henrietta, 5-8; lost to Holliday, 2-8 in consolation semifinal.

Doubles

Finlee Brown-Charli Trail lost to Wichita Falls Legacy, 4-8; def. Stamford, 8-1 in consolation semifinal;lot to Abilene High, 2-8 in consolation final.

Mixed Doubles

Abi Hale-Jake Hale def. Vernon, 8-4; def. Vernon Northsid,e, 9-8 (7-3) in semifinal; lost to Ivy-Fairchild, 6-8 in championship.

Mimi Ivy-Cade Fairchild def. Quanah, 8-2; def. Abilene High, 8-2 in semifinal; def. Hale-Hale, 8-6 in championship.