Irish eyes smiling…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@Oklahoman.com
After watching the McGuinness girls tennis team Friday at the Heritage Hall Tournament of Champions, would it be wrong to crown them the champs now?
Well, yeah, but this is one dynamic squad. There’s no letdown from No. 1 singles to No. 2 doubles, it’s insane. Entering last week, the girls had dropped a total of two games. Now last Monday’s Putnam West Tournament raised that number, but No. 1 singles Peta Lancaster was still perfect.
That’s why Edmond North’s Rachel Mitcham deserves some credit, managing to scratch out four games in the Hhall semifinals. Yeah, she lost 6-2, 6-2, but she broke through.
But then we found out what the OU-signee Lancaster is all about. Clearly frustrated at the start, she quickly regained her composure.
In the final, the senior dispensed of sophomore Julie Labarthe of Heritage Hall. Hmm, a senior taking out a sophomore, sound familiar? Eric West of Union did the same thing to Jenks’ Omar Aly. But Aly and Labarthe will be names to remember for the next three years, says The Boneman.
Unfortunately, I can’t say much for Katelyn Connelly. The No. 2 singles was being played at Casady with all finals being back at the Hall. However, Heritage Hall’s Nicole Holsted had to default because of illness. I was looking for to another Heritage-McG showdown.
As a shock to no one, the Irish swept the girls side. Its best challenge of anyone in the state would come from 4A Tulsa Kelley (who wasn‘t at the tourney). As I’ve said before, I would love to see those Lewis sisters (Andrea, Abby, Amy). I’ll have to take a gander at their schedule, but I want to see how good that trio is.
McGuinness won the girls while Tulsa Union won the boys tournament. An excellent two days of tennis despite being marred by incredibly chilly temperatures on Friday. You know, a day removed from being 80 degrees. And of course the rain/mist that halted play Saturday. Still a great weekend.
Up next on the docket this week, well, we have some conference crowns to be decided. The Mid-State Conference, where Norman North and Edmond Memorial seem to have a leg up, will battle it out. For my Tulsa friends, the Metro Area Tournament begins Monday and could run through Wednesday.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment