In arguably the toughest tennis district in Class 4A, Canyon ISD showed its prowess by sending 11 of the 12 spots to the UIL Region I-4A meet during the District 4-4A tournament held at the Amarillo Tennis Center on Monday and Tuesday.
The biggest matchup was in boys’ singles where Cooper Richardson of West Plains and Brandon Ysaguirre of Hereford faced off in a matchup of players that have made multiple trips to the state tournament. The two played each other last year in the 4A state tennis meet in the mixed doubles division.
This time, the pair would have to go it solo, and it was Richardson who came out on top with a 6-4, 6-2 hard fought win. The senior netter, who won the mixed doubles title last year over Ysaguirre has been dominant this year and proved again why he’s a threat to get back to state in San Antonio.
It was an all-Canyon final in girls’ singles as Lauren Brooks took down her teammate, Samantha Melear, 6-0, 6-2. The impressive sophomore, who has already won more than 100 matches in her short career, hopes to make a return trip to state again this year.
In doubles competition, Randall showed their might by taking gold in all three events. In boys’ doubles, Jensen Betzen and Sawyer Eason made quick work of the West Plains duo of William Bailey and Paul Mendez with a convincing 6-0, 6-0 win.
However, Bailey and Mendez will also be making a trip to the regional tournament as they won a thrilling three set match over Eric Vick and Shubh Doshi of Pampa, 5-7, 7-6 (10), 6-4 to claim second place.
Gabby Dishong won a state title last year in girls doubles and is looking to repeat with a new partner and so far, so good. Dishong and Emmalee Sillivent took down their teammates, Lily Harding and Abri Hays, with a strong 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Finally, in mixed doubles, the Randall pair of Daxon Betzen and Kynley Craddock had no problem with Canyon’s Bradley Enriquez and Hannah Terry notching a 6-2, 6-2 win. Craddock won state in girls doubles and Betzen finished second in boys doubles last year and now look poised to make a run as partners.
The top two qualifiers advance to the Region 1-4A tournament which is set for May 9-10 at the McLeod Center in Lubbock.
Amarillo High sends four to regionals
At the District 3-5A tennis meet in Plainview on Monday and Tuesday, Amarillo High gained four entries in the Region 1-5A tournament next week in Lubbock.
Leading the way for the Sandies netters were a pair of mixed doubles teams. Bear Stroud and Halle Rose cruised to the finals before winning a hard-fought straight set victory over Caleb Kersh and Annie Throckmorton, 6-3, 6-4.
Sara Shelhamer, a state qualifier in girls doubles last year, continued her winning ways by taking the girls singles title, 6-1,6-1 over Khloe Valdez from Lubbock High. That convincing win was the toughest match over the two days as the impressive sophomore only lost two games in the three matches leading up to the finals.
The final qualifier for Amarillo High was the boys doubles team of Matt Whitecotton and Jamin Yott. The duo fell in the finals to Lubbock Cooper’s Asher Etchison and Joseph Aguirre, 6-1, 6-2. After Tascosa’s Parker Austin and Jack Kelley won the third-place match over teammates True Rush and Samuel Berryman, 6-4, 6-2, they faced off against Whitecotton and Yott for a chance at a regional berth.
In that battle it was the Amarillo High team that proved too much as they took a tight 7-5 first set win and used that momentum to notch a 6-2 second set win and the match.
The top two finishers move on to the Region I-5A tournament which is set for May 7-8 at the McLeod Center in Lubbock.