Dominant district run sends nine to regional tennis
By Melinda L. Lucas
The Albany tennis program claimed the boys team at the District 10-2A tournament and qualified nine entries for regional competition.
Albany ended Monday’s play with the top mixed doubles team, the top girls doubles, first place boy singles and second place boys doubles. Added on day two was a runner up mixed doubles title.
The Region II-2A tournament will be played Friday and Saturday, May 9-10 at Richland Tennis Center in North Richland Hills. The top two finishers in each draw qualify for the Class 2A state tournament, scheduled May 15-16 at Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.
The district tournament was played Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22 at Rose Park Tennis Center in Abilene.
“They were probably two of the best days for tennis that I’ve ever experienced,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “It was beautiful weather for district.”
There was no overall team title awarded this year, but Albany claimed the boys title and was just 2.5 points from winning the girls title, even though there were no girls singles entries.
The boys had 47.5 points ahead of Hawley’s 45, while the point totals for the girls were Hawley with 40 and Albany with 37.5.
Juniors Mimi Ivy and Cade Fairchild were the gold medalists in mixed doubles. Fairchild was a regional qualifier last year with his older brother Cason in boys doubles.
After a playback on Tuesday morning, seniors Abi Hale and Jake Hale earned the silver medal in mixed doubles, advancing them to the regional tournament for the third consecutive year. They won the regional title last year and played at the state tournament.
In girls doubles, Hattie Braly and Charlee Hefner, both sophomores, won a trip to regional by claiming the top spot, while freshman Aiden Vickers was the boys singles champion.
“I couldn’t be happier about our team’s performance at district,” Reneau said. “There were some very long matches, and our kids were able to push and through and come out on top in most.”
Nine out of Albany’s 12 entries at district are moving on to the regional level
“This is a young team, and I’m really excited about how many will be back next year. To advance so many in so many different categories is great.”
District 10-2A
Tournament
varsity
mixed doubles
Mimi Ivy and Cade Fairchild bye in first round; def. West/Miles of Hawley 6-1, 6-0; def. Hale/Hale of Albany 6-1, 6-1 for championship.
Abi Hale and Jake Hale bye in first round; def. Anderson/Ramos of Anson 6-0, 6-0; lost to Ivy/Fairchild 1-6, 1-6; def. West/Miles of Hawley 6-2, 6-2 in playback for second place.
Girls Doubles
Hattie Braly and Charlee Hefner bye in first round; def. Balch/Newton of Hawley 6-3, 6-4; def. Frazier/Cory of Hawley 6-2, 7-6, (7-5) for championship.
Finlee Brown and Charli Trail defeated Fernandez/Hewitt of Anson 6-2, 6-0, lost to Frazier/Cory of Hawley 6-2, 7-6, (7-5); lost to Balch/Newton 4-6, 5-7.
boys doubles
Woods Peterson and Jaxson Street bye in the first round; def. Doerschuk/Doerschuk of Hawley 7-6, (7-3),7-6, (7-1); lost to Patanpatan/Patanpatan of Hawley 3-6, 3-6 for second place.
Boys singles
Aiden Vickers def. Stalling of Hawley 6-1, 6-1; def. Horn of Stamford 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; def. Crim of Hawley 6-3, 6-2 for the championship.
Braeten Street def. Cadenhead of Anson 6-4, 6-1, lost to Williams of Cisco 2-6, 0-6.
Junior varsity
Boys singles
Slayten Kelly def. Llanez of Cisco 8-2; def. Bhakta of Cisco 8-2 for the championship
