TEN: Noble, doubles' team advance to State
Class 3A Region III Tennis Tournament this week. (Photo courtesy
of CHS)
Three underclassmen on the Center High School tennis team have proved that hard work and determination does pay off as they finished second at the Class 3A Region III Tennis Tournament in Bryan this week to qualify for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Tournament in Austin.
Lady Rider sophomore Amber Noble placed second in girls' singles action, while CHS juniors Jacy Clark and Jesse Campbell took second-place honors in boys' doubles play Tuesday at the Class 3A Region III Tennis Tournament in Bryan.
The trio of athletes, along with other players who finished first or second at the Regional tourney, will advance to the state tourney, scheduled for May 9-10 at Lakeway World of Tennis in Lakeway.
Noble began play on Monday with a straight-set victory over Athens' Carlee Andress, then topped Bara Vencalkova in three sets, before topping Caitlin Zarr of LaGrange in a two-set match to advance to the regional championship.
Noble then fell to Cassaundra Braaten of Bullard and finish second.
In boys' doubles action, Clark and Campbell opened play with a straight-set victory over Huffman-Hargrave's Kyle Lee and Austin Smith. Next up was Groesbeck's Brazos Holligan and Nathan Coleman, which the Center tandem disposed off in straight sets again. Clark and Campbell stopped Hunter Myres and Nick Hoelscher of Columbus in straight sets in the semifinals.
The Center duo then fell to Timothy Brewer and Ethan McWhorter of Groesbeck in the championship round to take the runner-up spot.
In other action involving Center athletes:
Roughrider junior Seth Grant knocked off Chandler Wright of Tarkington in the opening round and then topped Jacob Wingate of Robinson in his consecutive straight-set win. He then fell to Sealy's Steven Hlozek, before coming back to defeat Jace Yantis of Bellville in the third-place match.
In girls' doubles play, the Lady Rider duo of junior Caroline Chadwick and sophomore Emily Howard defeated the Silsbee duo of Tonya Flowers and Mackenzie Lejeune in straight sets, before falling to Groesbeck's Kailla Parker and Jamie Madison in a three-set match. The Groesbeck tandem finished third in the event.
Center freshman Whitney Haddox and sophomore Darby Hudspeth lost in the opening round to Bellville's Jenna Jackson and Amanda Mueller. The Bellville duo finished fourth in the competition.
In mixed doubles' play, Center junior Ross Reynolds and sophomore Ashton Lucas knocked off Haydin Oceguera and Kinsey Arnaud of Bridge City in straight sets in the first round and then topped Blake Hickman and Ashley Hurst of Smithville in a three-set match.
The Center tandem then fell to Tyler Patek and Daniella Bonilla of Bellville in the semifinals before falling to Dylan Cox and Kaitlyn Green of Kirbyville to place fourth at the event.