TEN: Center netters dominates 18-3A Meet
Tuesday's District 18-3A Tennis Meet in Center. Cordray and
teammate Dustin Windham took top honors in the varsity mixed
doubles competition. (Photo by John Krueger)
CENTER -- The Center Rider tennis team completely dominated play Tuesday at home as they hosted the District 18-3A Tennis Meet. CHS male and female athletes swept top honors in all five varsity brackets and six other Riders qualified for the upcoming Class 3A Region III Meet in Bryan by placing second in four events.
The UIL Class 3A Region III Championships will be held on April 19-20 in Bryan.
Center sophomore Seth Grant had an easy time of it in the opening round and he didn't slow from that point as he captured first place in boys' singles. Grant topped Sanan Wright 6-0, 6-1 in the first round and went on to finish unbeaten to capture top honors.
Roughrider junior Wesley Howard received a first-round bye in boys' singles, and went on to finish second and also qualify for Regional. Third place went to a Jasper's Raheim Turner and Diboll's Scott Drake placed fourth.
Lady Rider freshman Amber Noble also cruised in her opening round and then swept through the competition to claim top honors in girls' singles. Noble won her first-round match 6-0, 6-0 on her way to the district singles' title.
Also looking impressive in girls' singles was Center's Caroline Chadwick, who knocked off Jasper's Damianna McQueen 6-1, 6-0 in the first round and then went on to place second at the league meet. Her second-place finish qualified her for the Regional meet as well. Carthage athletes placed third and fourth at the league meet on Tuesday.
Center athletes Dustin Windham and Erika Cordray went unbeaten to win the mixed doubles' competition. Windham and Cordray, who are both seniors, blanked Carthage's Lee and Mason 6-0, 6-0, and then finished unbeaten to secure top honors.
A Hudson duo placed second in the mixed doubles bracket, while Center senior Tommy Bierman and sophomore Sara Harkness posted a third-place showing. A Hudson pair placed fourth.
The girls' doubles competition went to Center seniors Casey Fountain and Shelby Hudspeth. After receiving a first-round bye, the two raced past the competition to take the top honors.
Two other Center players, seniors Cassie Cox and Whitney Burgay, will also be making the trip to Bryan for the Regional meet after placed second in the competition. Two Hudson pairs placed third and fourth in the bracket.
The boys' doubles title went to a pair of Center sophomores, Jessie Campbell and Jacy Clark. They also went unbeaten in the tournament. Roughrider junior Mario Jimenez and sophomore Ross Reynolds teamed up to finish second and also qualify for the postseason. A duo from Hudson placed third and a pair from Diboll came in fourth in the bracket.
Junior varsity and alternate girls' singles players from Center players participating saw freshmen Emily Howard place first, Ashton Lucas was second, Julie Wilkins placed third and Haley Greear took the fourth spot in a separate brocket. Also, Emily Hearne and Taylor Sneed advanced to the quarterfinals and Camryn Sisk participated.
In the girls' doubles competition, the Center duo of Katie Johnson and Darby Hudspeth took top honors, while Megan Camp and Bryana Tarver placed second. Third place went to a duo from Hudson and fourth went to a pair from Carthage.
Center junior varsity and alternate boys competing included Kevin Lindsey placing first, Joseph Tomaszewski placing second, Cody Fountain third and Anthony Johnson was fourth in their bracket.
In boys' doubles, Center's Wil McFarland and John Singson captured first place, while Roughriders Derek Hughes and Kwayde Lucas placed second. A pair from Diboll placed third and a duo from Huntington came in fourth.