Albany earns 3 tennis titles
The Albany tennis program claimed the boys, girls, and overall team titles at the District 10-2A tournament and qualified six entries for regional competition.
The Region II-2A tournament will be played Wednesday- Thursday, May 8-9 at Richland Tennis Center in North Richland Hills. The top two finishers in each draw qualify for the Class 2A state tournament, scheduled for Thursday-Friday, May 16-17 at Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.
In cases where the third placewinnerand championship loser have not met, a playback will determine the second qualifier.
The district tournament was played Monday-Tuesday, April 22-23 at Rose Park Tennis Centerin Abilene.The schedule had to be juggled after weather issues pushed the conclusion of the Region II-2A track meet back to Monday.
“I’m just glad we were able to get it all in,” coach M.J. Reneau said.
Albany had the top seed in girls singles and doubles as well as boys singles and mixed doubles. All four won their respective draws, helping clinch the team title for the third year in a row.
On Monday, Sidney Russell defended her girls singles title, taking the first step toward a third trip to state.
“Sidney had a very strong district tournament,” Reneau said. “You could tell she’s very experienced. She handled herself well and played great Monday.”
Caroline Chapman helped continue Albany’s dominance in girls singles, falling to Russell in the final.
In the last four years,Albany has taken the top two girls singles spots at district three times. Russell lost in the final to Albany’s Sarah Cotter in 2021 and 2022.
Jaci Chapman and Robyn Trail won the girls doubles crown. Last year, Chapman qualified for state with Ella Webb,but missed the tournament for medical reasons. Trail, who played mixed doubles last year, proved to be a good fit with Chapman after Webb graduated.
“They’ve meshed really well,” Reneau said. “They came together and gave it all they had Monday.”
Reneau said the duo’s experience was a factor in the final.
“Jaci and Robyn are both seniors, and you can tell they’re experienced when they get out on the court, she said. “In the finals, they won the first set in a tiebreaker and never looked back. They really set the tone for the second set and came out and took care of business.”
Albany’s second girls doubles pair of Hattie Braly and Charlee Hefner finished fourth, losing to Hawley teams in both the semifinals and third place match.
In the junior varsity division, Casey Estridge won the boys singles title. Estridge wasAlbany’s only JV entry.
On Tuesday, Luke Marshall repeated as boys singles champion, while Abi Hale and Jake Hale won mixed doubles, and a local boys doubles team is assured of advancing, with two Albany teams in a playback situation.
Marshall, a two-time state medalist, is one tournament away from qualifying for state in tennis, golf, and track.
“Luke only gave up one game in three matches,” Reneau said. “He looked really good. We’re excited with the way it’s going to play out with his schedule for golf and track.”
Freshman Braeten Street lost in the first round.
The Hales’ win earned them a return to regional, where they finished fourth last year.
“They looked great,” Reneau said. “I’m excited for their regional run because they defeated the No. 2 seed last year. We’re hoping to get them a seed this year and put them in a little better spot.”
The mixed doubles pair of Mimi Ivy and Jaxson Street finished third, giving Albany a regional alternate.
In boys doubles, Cason Fairchild and Cade Fairchild finished second, while Woods Peterson an Brayden Watson finished third. That resulted in the need for a playback that could not be contested on Tuesday.
“Both boys doubles teams lost to the Patanpatan brothersfromHawley,” Reneau said. “There was a conflict with baseball, so we couldn’t play Tuesday.”
The teams were to decide Wednesday, April 24, at the Albany courts which Albany pair would advance.
DISTRICT 10-2A TOURNAMENT (Seeds in parentheses) VARSITY GIRLS SINGLES Sidney Russell (1) bye in first round; def. Brooks (4), Stamford, 6-0, 6-0 in semifinals; def. Caroline Chapman (3), Albany, 6-0, 6-1 for championship.
Caroline Chapman (3) def. Pittman (5), Cisco, 6-4, 6-2 in first round; def. West (2), Hawley, 6-4, 6-2 in semifinals; lost to Sidney Russell (1), Albany, 0-6, 1-6 for championship.
GIRLS DOUBLES
Jaci Chapman and Robyn Trail (1), bye in first round; def. West-Balch (4), Hawley, 6-1, 6-0 in semifinals; def. Cory-Frazier (2), Hawley, 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 for championship.
Hattie Braly and Charlee Hefner (5) def. Eisenbach-Wolf (3), Cisco, 7-5, 6-2 in first round; lost to Cory-Frazier (2), Hawley, 5-7, 2-6 in semifinals; losttoWest-Balch(4),Hawley, 0-6, 5-7 for third place.
BOYS SINGLES
Luke Marshall (1) def. Drew Faulks (8), Stamford, 6-0, 6-0 in first round; def. Dylan Sones (4),Cisco,6-0,6-0insemifinals; def. Conner Anaya (2), Cisco, 6-0, 6-1 for the championship.
Braeten Street (5) lost to Gideon Horn (3), Stamford, 0-6, 0-6, in first round.
BOYS DOUBLES
Woods Peterson and Brayden Watson (5) def. Gonzalez-Maxwell (4), Cisco, 6-0, 6-0 in play-in match; los to Patanpatan-Patanpatan (1), Hawley, 2-6, 4-6 in semifinals; def. Ables-Womack (3), Hawley, 6-0, 6-0 for third place.
Cason Fairchild and Cade Fairchild (2), def. Ables-Womack (3), Hawley, 6-0, 6-3 in semifinals; lost to Patanpatan- Patanpatan (1), Hawley, 3-6, 3-6 for the championship.
MIXED DOUBLES
Abi Hale and Jake Hale (1) def. Cory-Westbrook (4), Hawley, 6-1, 6-0 in semifinals; def. Crim-Wright (2), Hawley, 6-3, 6-4 for championship.
Mimi Ivy and Jaxson Street (3) lost to Crim-Wright (2), Hawley, 3-6, 4-6 in semifinals; def. Cory-Westbrook (4), Hawley, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) for third place.
JUNIOR VARSITY BOYS SINGLES
Casey Estridge (2) bye in first round; def. Birdsong (3), Stamford, 8-2 in semifinals; def. Bays (6), Cisco, 8-2 for championship.
