Tennis teams win titles at district meet
By Sam Waller
Albany entries won four of five draws Monday, March 28, at the District 10-2A tennis tournament at Rose Park Tennis Center in Abilene.
Albany swept the team titles, winning overall, as well as boys and girls championships, with five athletes going back on Friday for playbacks to decide second and third places.
Albany’s Sarah Cotter repeated as girls singles champion, while Luke Marshall won the boys singles title. The girls doubles team of Ella Webb and Susie Cormack won their draw, and the mixed doubles pair of Jaci Chapman and Mikey Hernandez also won.
“It was a great showing,” coach M.J. Reneau said. “Our kids played really well. Our goal was to win district on both sides and overall, and they accomplished that.”
Reneau said a large part of the success was due to the leadership of the team’s five seniors.
“A lot of our teams placed, and now we’re moving on to regionals after accomplishing our goal for district,” she said.
The four district champions qualify for the Region II-2A tournament on April 11-12 at North Richland Hills.
In draws where the championship loser and third-place winner did not meet in the semifinals, a playback will determine the second regional berth. Albany has three entries in playbacks on Friday, April 1 at Rose Park. In boys doubles, Luke Ivy and Cooper Fairchild will play teammates Cason Fairchild and Keatin Russell, while Sidney Russell is in a playback in girls singles.
Sidney Russell and the Fairchild-Russell pair finished second in their draws. The Ivy-Fairchild duo finished third.
Abi Hale and Jake Hale finished third in mixed doubles, but did not qualify for a playback.
Complete district results will be reported next week.
Snyder Tourney
Albany tuned up for district on Thursday, March 24 by winning three draws at the Snyder Small School tournament with two finals matching Albany entries. Chapman and Hernandez won mixed doubles, topping teammates Hale and Hale. Chelsy Parsons and Maci Hatchett won girls doubles, defeating teammates Leddie Leech and Robyn Trail in the final.
Webb won the girls singles draw and Cason Fairchild finished third in boys singles.
Brooklyn Abbate and Cambree Clegg won the girls double consolation. Chloe Daugherty and Keatin Russell won the mixed doubles consolation.
Results from Snyder are as follows:
Girls Singles
Ella Webb defeated Elayna Cross, Snyder, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round; defeated Neveah McDonald, Sweetwater, 6-0, 6-1, in the semifinals, then defeated Gracie Rawlings, Highland, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 10-6 in the finals for the championship.
Boys Singles
Cason Fairchild defeated Gage Gibson, Hermleigh, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round; lost to Tyler Slaton, Highland, in the semifinals; then beat Austin Sanchez, Albany, 6-1, 6-0 for third place.
Austin Sanchez lost to Zack Hailey, Sweetwater, 6-0, 6-1 in the first round; defeated Dax, Hermleigh, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round; lost to Cason Fairchild 6-1, 6-0 for third place.
Girls Doubles
Chelsy Parsons and Maci Hatchett defeated Summer-Ryan, Hermleigh, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round; defeated Highfeld-Tran, Snyder, 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals; then defeated Leddie Leech-Robin Trail, Albay, 3-6, 6-1, 10-5 in the finals for the championship.
Leddie Leech and Robin Trail had a bye in the first round; defeated Hailey-Mia, Hermleigh, 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals; lost to Chelsy Parsons-Maci Hatchett 3-6, 6-1, 10-5 in the finals.
Brooklyn Abbate and Cambree Clegg lost to Highfeld-Tran, Snyder, 6-3, 4-6, 10-5 in the first round, defeated Summer-Ryan, Hermleigh, 6-3, 6-2 in the consolation final.
Mixed Doubles
Jaci Chapman and Mikey Hernandez defeated Eaker-Sargeant, Highland, 6-1, 6-0 in the first round; defeated Sarah-Brenson, Hermleigh, 6-1, 6-0, in the semifinals, defeated Abi Hale-Jake Hale, Albany, 6-3, 8-6 in the finals for the championship.
Abi Hale and Jake Hale defeated Guzman-Solis, Snyder, 6-3, 6-2 in a pl;ay-in; defeated Luis-Julie, Hermleigh, 6-1, 6-0 in the first round; defeated Hudson-Martinez, Snyder, 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals; lost to Jaci Chapman-Mikey Hernandez, Albany, 6-3, 8-6 in the final.
Chloe Daugherty and Keatin Russell lost to Sarah-Brenson, Hermleigh, 6-3, 3-6, 10-3 in the first round, defeated Stetson-Bubba, Hermleigh, 6-1, 6-1 in the consolation semifinals; defeated Guzman-Solos, Snyder, 6-2, 6-0 in the consolation final.
