No dominant team in girls tennis
Tennis
Tournament of Champions
At Heritage Hall
Girls
Team scoring: 1. Edmond Memorial 25; 2. (tie) Edmond North, Jenks 22; 4. (tie) McGuinness, Enid 20; 6. Duncan 16; 7. Heritage Hall 15; 8. Cascia Hall 8.
Championships
No. 1 singles: Chiaf, McGuinness, def. Bowen, Heritage Hall, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2 singles: Montgomery, Edmond Memorial, def. Hayes, Edmond North
No. 1 doubles: Pepper-Reed, Edmond North, def. Waldron-Wei, Jenks, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 doubles: Dick-Zaloudek, Enid, def. Siegler-Siegler, Jenks, 6-3, 7-6
Chiaf earns title
It’s evident that the Bishop McGuinness girls tennis team won’t be the dominant force that it’s been in recent years.
But don’t think the Irish still won’t be in the hunt for another state championship. Senior Ashleigh Chiaf earned the No. 1 singles championship with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Heritage Hall’s Sarah Bowen on Friday afternoon at the Tournament of Champions at Heritage Hall.
It was the first time the girls had played against each other in two years when Bowen had defeated Chiaf at this same tournament.
“It was about ‘want to’ today,” Chiaf said. “I really wanted this win. We always play tough matches, but I was able to persevere in the tough points.”
It is the first year at singles for Chiaf after winning three state championships in doubles.
Bowen had a three-set battle with Piper Huey of Jenks in the semifinals, while Chiaf cruised to the final. Chiaf was really on her game in this tournament. You can tell that she is taking a lot of pride in being a senior and leading this team.
Bulldogs win team championship
If Friday’s competition was any indication of what the state tournament is going to be like, it’s an open field.
Four different teams won the individual championships with Edmond Memorial taking home the team title.
For the Bulldogs, it was about consistency. Every player won at least two matches and No. 2 singles player Megan Montgomery earned the championship with a win against Edmond North’s Annie Hayes.
The Huskies and Jenks tied for second, while McGuinness and Enid tied for fourth in the eight-team field.
Gonna be interesting to see the lineups being tinkered with. Definitely think Edmond North is going to be fluctuating all season until coach Dee Ann Wallar makes up her mind. A lot of talent there, just about finding the right spot.
Kinda surprised that Edmond Memorial took home the crown but says a lot about what Randy Mays is doing there. You go 9-3 against a field like this, well, you have nothing to be ashamed about.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Putnam North’s Chris Haworth ousted in USTA event
Still waiting to hear back from Putnam North’s Chris Haworth so I can’t really comment on the third set. After winning the first set, Haworth lost the next two in losing to Nikoloz Basilashvili of the country of Georgia.
The two met in the first round of the USTA/Jackie Cooper BMW Oklahoma Open at the OKC Tennis Center on Wednesday afternoon. Score was 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
I was able to see the first two sets, but I was unable to stay for the third but heard Haworth loss. When covering the tennis state tournament, I have to wander from court to court and keep up with many different storylines and schools.
Wednesday was nice because I just stayed with Haworth the entire way. After the first serve of the match by Nikoloz, I thought Haworth was in trouble. But Haworth was able to read Nikoloz’ serve well en route to a 6-2 victory in the first set.
Up 2-1 in the first set, Haworth saved two break points to take the 3-1 lead. Trying to serve out the set, Haworth was unflappable and showed no nerves.
In the second set, Nikoloz got off to a big lead only for Haworth to battle back. Knotted at two games apiece, Nikoloz won the the fifth game that saw six deuces. Nikoloz eventually built up a 5-2 lead before Haworth mounted his charge.
Serving at 4-5, Haworth saved one set point, held and broke Nikoloz for a 6-5 lead. Up 30-15 in the ensuing game was big call. I thought (and Chris thought) Nikoloz’ shot was wide. It was called in and the match went from double match point to 30-30.
Nikoloz brought his ‘A’ game in the latter part of the second half and definitely in the tiebreak, which he won 7-4. He started to use the drop shot very effectively and started to slam home some clean winners.
I watched Haworth win the first game of the third set before I had to leave. Great effort by Haworth, who received a wild card entry from tournament organizers.
Haworth, of course, is the two-time defending champion at No. 1 singles for the Panthers and has signed with Oklahoma State.
Like I said, haven’t been able to get in touch with Haworth yet. But when I do, I will update.
***
Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com
Tennis rankings for week of March 28
Tennis is one of the few sports without OKRankings.com listings, but the coaches do have their own rankings. Here they are as we head into a big tennis week:
6A Boys
1. Edmond North
2. Tulsa Union
3. Jenks
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Broken Arrow
6. Enid
7. Putnam City North
8. Norman North
9. Mustang
10. Norman
6A Girls
1. Jenks
2. Edmond North
3. Enid
4. Edmond Memorial
5. Broken Arrow
6. Owasso
7. Bartlesville
8. Muskogee
9. Mustang
10 (tie). Edmond Santa Fe, Sand Springs
5A Boys
1. Bishop Kelley
2. Ada
3. Bishop McGuinness
4. Durant
5. Carl Albert
6. Duncan
7. Ardmore
8. Shawnee
9. Deer Creek
10. McAlester
5A Girls
1. Bishop McGuinness
2. Duncan
3. Bishop Kelley
4. Tahlequah
5. Booker T. Washington
6. Ada
7. Ardmore
8. Carl Albert
9. Tulsa Edison
10. Durant
4A Boys
1. Metro Christian
2. Heritage Hall
3. Cascia Hall
4. Oklahoma Christian School
5. Anadarko
6. Oologah
7. Beaver
8. Sperry
9. Piedmont
10. Elk City
4A Girls
1. Heritage Hall
2. Cascia Hall
3. Perry
4. Byng
5. St. Mary
6. Anadarko
7. Metro Christian
8. Elk City
9. Seminole
10. Clinton
Irish: Ashleigh Chiaf signs with Missouri…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Bishop McGuinness senior Ashleigh Chiaf signs to play tennis for Missouri.
It’s like a tennis factory there at Bishop McGuinness. They take them from the assembly line, teach them and send them off to a Division I school.
OK, maybe that’s overstating it, but what the Irish girls program has done there is incredible. Twelve consecutive team championships and most of them haven’t even been close.
It will be weird to not see Mia Lancaster, Emily Conrad and Whitney Ritchie out there, but Ashleigh Chiaf still remains.
As a freshman, she never once corrected the spelling of her first name. I had it ‘Ashley’ the entire way. I don’t make that mistake anymore as many times as I’ve typed it.
She’s a three-time champ, gunning for No. 4 this spring.
Harrah: Sam Raglin survives fall, doing OK…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Harrah's Sam Raglin after surviving his fall from Elk Mountain.
Hopefully, Sam Raglin can enjoy the rest of his summer. After what he’s been through the last two months, that’s not much to ask, is it?
I was introduced to Raglin, who will be a senior at Harrah this year, in May when his family’s home was destroyed by the tornado. He still played at the state tournament.
For that info, go here.
But something just as scary happened to Raglin less than 10 days ago. While hiking, Raglin fell and stumbled down Elk Mountain.
He suffered some horrible injuries but managed to survive. Not just survive but almost act as if nothing even happened to him.
Act as if he did not have a fractured skull or bleeding in the brain, a broken pelvis and some punctured lungs – which were his worst injuries.
No, Raglin says he’s really doing quite fine now. His aunt sent me an e-mail a couple of days ago letting me know Sam is fine and resting right now.
Really an incredible story. Here is Matt Dinger’s piece from the incident…incredible.
Tennis POY: Labarthe or Lancaster? Lancaster or Labarthe?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Your All-City Tennis Players of the Year, Chris Haworth of Putnam North and Julie Labarthe of Heritage Hall. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
Never in my three years of doing this gig have I had a tougher decision than who to select for this year’s All-City Girls Tennis Player of the Year.
You could make the argument for three players: Heritage Hall’s Julie Labarthe and Bishop McGuinness stars Mia Lancaster and Whitney Ritchie.
Lancaster beat Ritchie in the challenge matches to become the No. 1 singles player so now we’re down to two.
And what a duo the girls are. It’s amazing that in the three years they’ve played in the same state, Labarthe and Lancaster never ever met in a high school match.
This year was sure to be the year at the Heritage Hall Tournament of Champions. They would come in as the top two seeds and all order would be restored in my universe.
Nope. As we all know, the Tournament fell on Easter weekend and there are no extracurricular activities played by the Irish on that weekend.
They both went undefeated. Labarthe was 28-0, Lancaster was 27-0. Both won individual and team state championships.
Against common foes, they were both stellar. They both beat two of the best girls in the state, Duncan’s Melanie Barnes and Edmond North’s Ann Pepper, rather comfortably. And Lancaster didn’t lose a match in her three years with the Irish after having won state as a freshman in Texas.
So why not co-players of the year?
It’s in jest, but I blame Ryan Aber. When he chose Keiton Page of Pawnee over Rotnei Clarke of Verdigris, that was it. You could never ever make the case for a co-player award again. If you didn’t do it there when both had won state titles and set scoring records, it was never going to be done.
So I went to the coaches. I won’t tell you which coaches or what they said, but it was great insight.
What it came down to, for me, was the maturity (on and off the court) of Labarthe. She realized it was her senior year and played with such passion. She wasn’t taking this for granted.
Her focus was incredible this year, and you can see it when you realize she had 36 love (6-0) sets this year. That’s ridiculous. That means in only 20 of her 56 sets did any one earn a game against her.
There is no wrong answer in this equation but wanted to give you my .02. It’s a season award, not a career one. Labarthe faced tougher girls as McGuinness had bad luck with tournaments being canceled or teams pulling out, etc.
Truth is in a perfect world the two would duke it out for the championship in a Tournament of Champions that golf and track have done after their respective season. Since that won’t happen, went with my gut.
Congrats to both girls as Labarthe is headed to Quinnipiac and Lancaster is OU bound. For the record, the choice for boys (Chris Haworth of Putnam City North) took less than one second. We still have one more year with him.
For Labarthe’s story, go here. For the girls’ first team, go here. For the girls’ complete list, go here.
For Haworth’s story, go here. For the boys’ first team, go here. For the boys’ complete list, go here.
Top 15 moments of 2009-10 (Part II)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Looked at moments 15-8 on Saturday, let’s finish the countdown. Like I said before, I had to witness these moments for them to be included.
No. 7 – Perry’s Ian Fisher and El Reno’s Cory Dauphin become four-time state champions
I always feel like Saturday night wrestling finals take forever, but they really don’t. Dauphin was absolutely incredible in his four years with the Indians while Fisher was so steady with almost like stoic presence. The two became No. 26 and No. 27 as Oklahoma four-time champions. Neither had any difficulty in achieving the feat.
No. 6 – Casady beats Heritage Hall 7-0 in 2OT
The term ‘Redeem Team’ wasn’t coined here, but this was the moment where you knew Casady was not going to be a pushover this season. This game was full of great defense. Heritage’s Cale Courtney almost scored on a long fourth down run before the Cyclones finally found the end zone on a TD pass from Cale Shivers to Travis Hibdon.
Star vs. Douglass was memorable for many reasons - one of them was Darwin Rideau's performance. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
No. 5 – Championship Monday: Boys Tennis
Even if they’re not, when events run longer than they’re supposed to, it gives that feeling of being special. And for me, the tennis nut, this was like a dream to just go back and forth from four courts to watch one championship after another. Putnam North’s Chris Haworth reclaim his title, Nate Roper of Edmond North show he’ll be a force in years to come and the Huskies finishing a crazy-good season.
No. 4 – All-OKCPS Class 4A football championship (Star Spencer beats Douglass)
Maybe Stillwater wasn’t the best site for the two schools, but it was still a magical night at Boone Pickens Stadium. I don’t know if we’ll ever see anything like that ever again. It was a track meet in the first half before Terence Olds and Darwin Rideau powered the Bobcats to the victory and the state championship. Truly a great night for Oklahoma City Public Schools.
No. 3 – Edmond Santa Fe girls basketball beats Memorial in OT (aka the Arielle Cooper game)
Not only was this one of the best moments of the year, it was easily the best basketball game I saw the entire year. This was phenomenal with both teams taking shots at each other. Memorial is more than Alie Decker and Santa Fe is more than Courtney Walker, but they were phenomenal. Cooper, a sophomore, banked in a 3 to send the game into OT where the Wolves pulled it out. Even Memorial coach Shane Coffey couldn’t say anything bad about this one.
No. 2 – Booker T. boys basketball team wins state championship
Under Shea Seals, the Hornets had been so close in the last couple of years. Then this year, they clearly weren’t supposed to win against Tulsa Memorial. But Tharone Chilton and the rest of the BTW kids didn’t care about losing three times to the Chargers in the regular season. What sets this moment apart was the great celebration that included all the students there in the stands singing while the team had the gold ball. Really a special moment.
No. 1 – Edmond Memorial defeats Edmond North in biggest regular season Edlam game ever
OK, admit a little bias here. Being the Edmond writer, I admit to seeing the Bulldogs and Huskies (and Wolves) more than any other school. But this game had the feel of a big-time moment. North was 7-1 and off to its best start ever. Memorial was 5-3 and on a four-game winning streak. It was a battle for second in District 6A-2. And it was a defensive performance by the ‘Dawgs for the ages, culminating in Nelson Medeiros intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter and returning it for a touchdown in a 10-0 victory. It wasn’t a fluke as Memorial advanced to the quarterfinals and was tied with Jenks in the fourth quarter. And perhaps attending many practices and a pep rally for this game had my psyched as I remember saying this to one of my best friends: “I’m more pumped about Edlam than I was about OU-Texas. Is there something wrong with me?”
Now that we’ve looked back, time to look ahead to what should be a great 2010-11 high school sports year.
Top 15 moments of 2009-10 (Part I)…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, we did it. We’re through another great year of high school sports. A lot of great moments, a lot of special kids, here is just a small sample of some of my favorite memories.
Qualifying statement: I had to see these in person. I know I missed a lot of great moments so these can only be the ones I actually saw.
Here we go.
One of the best moments of the year was Casey Distaso's three-set battle of wills victory against Union Logon Collins in the semis. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
No. 15 – Bethel repeats as slowpitch softball state champions
This was a wild game against Purcell in the championship. At first, you thought the Wildcats were going to run the Dragons right out of the park. Purcell fought back, but it was still 12-4 entering the seventh inning. Then things got wacky. Purcell had hit after hit after hit only to lose 12-9. Bethel’s Brittany Watson is one of the best softball players I’ve seen in my three years of covering the game.
No. 14 – Edmond North boys swim team ekes out 200 individual medley relay
This is more of a personal one as I was gassed after all the 5A championships. However, this relay woke me up and had me ready to roll for the next hours. Edmond North just barely edged out Union by .06 for the title. Of course, Jenks would sweep both the boys and girls championships as Jacob Pearce had a memorable Saturday.
No. 13 – Buzzer beaters (Western Heights’ D.J. Taylor and Holland Hall’s Kwame Sexton)
There was a span of a couple of weeks where I just happened to be lucky enough to have my video camera with me. Taylor hit a 3-pointer to give the Jets a thrilling win against Deer Creek in the Bruce Gray Classic. Sexton drained a 3 at the buzzer to beat rival Casady after the Cyclones connected on 3 seconds earlier to tie the game.
No. 12 – Edmond Santa Fe goes for 2-point conversion vs. Edmond North and fails
Heck of a way to start your head coaching career, no? Bruce Gowen, in his first game with the Wolves, elects to go for a two-point conversion and the win. The Wolves were down 14-0 but rallied to make it 14-13. Gowen was riding momentum and had total confidence his boys could pull it off. North’s Rickey Lawyer intercepted the conversion attempt.
No. 11 – Edmond North’s Casey Distaso upends Union’s Logon Collins in three-set marathon
You know I’m a tennis aficionado, for better or worse. This was everything everybody thought it would be in the state semifinals. Collins earned the first set and was up 3-0 in the second. But Distaso, who decided to play specifically for this weekend, rallied back to earn the second set, 7-5. He never looked back in winning the third.
No. 10 – Bishop McGuinness boys basketball beat Carl Albert in OT in finals of McGuinness Classic
I love the basketball tournament weeks and this was no exception. The atmosphere was insane for the Irish and Titans and McGuinness’ Kevin Caruthers and CA’s Caleb Price were going back and forth in making one big shot after another. A Jameel Whitney block in OT spurred McGuinness to the victory.
Moment No. 8 saw Heritage pitcher Bob Kraft strike out 20 vs. rival Casady. Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman
No. 9 – Bishop McGuinness’ Emily Conrad and Whitney Ritichie become four-time champions
I feel like I’ve watched these two grow up the last three years. The Irish girls were dominant in all four years of their careers, never losing a match. Phenomenal stuff every time they went out there. Conrad will play at Abilene Christian while Ritchie will become the latest Irish player to play at OU.
No. 8 – Heritage Hall’s Bob Kraft strikes out 20 against Casady
Sometimes you stumble onto the greatness. Sure felt like it with this moment. Kraft struck out seven in two innings so figured it would be something special. He ended up recording 23 outs as two Ks got by the catcher. His variety of pitches is easily his strength. Heritage won, 8-1.
Moments 7-1 on Sunday.
Tennis All-State rosters and final rankings…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
It’s sad, isn’t it, knowing the tennis season is over? Oh well, we’re all just going to have to move on.
Here are your All-State teams and the final rankings by the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association.
OTCA All-State Teams
Tuesday, July 27, 5:30 p.m.
Case Tennis Center at University of Tulsa
Boys
West
Kevin Boyd, Norman North; John Byrne, Bishop McGuinness; Brian Diefenderfer, Putnam City North; Casey Distaso, Edmond North; Gavin Dubberstein, Edmond Memorial; Nick Jordan, Edmond North; Austin Manger, Carl Albert; Bowen Xu, Edmond Memorial.
East
Logon Collins, Tulsa Union; Reider Hunt, Tulsa Kelley; Evan McElwain, Tulsa Washington; Erik Richison, Metro Christian; Cameron Schoenhofer, Tulsa Kelley; Chase Sheffield, Ada; Zane Simmons, Jenks; Chase Tomlins, Cascia Hall.
Girls
West
Kaylyn Baker, Clinton; Melanie Barnes, Duncan; Caitlin Bell, Edmond Memorial; Julie Labarthe, Heritage Hall; Mia Lancaster, Bishop McGuinness; Kate LeValley, Duncan; Rachel Mitcham, Edmond North; Whitney Ritchie, Bishop McGuinness.
East
Bernadette Clement, Cascia Hall; Samantha Fuller, Cascia Hall; Brooke Gunter, Claremore; Niki Haddad, Shawnee; Erica Poe, Ada; Cydney Ramirez, Shawnee; Kristin Richardson, Claremore; Rachel Scroggs, Jenks.
Coaches — East: Josh Michael, Durant; West: Mike Lewis, Lawton Eisenhower.
Final OTCA Rankings
Boys
1. Edmond North
2. Tulsa Kelley
3. (tie) Cascia Hall, Metro Christian
5. Edmond Memorial
6. Jenks
7. Putnam North
8. Tulsa Union
9. (tie) Ada, Heritage Hall
Girls
1. Bishop McGuinness
2. Duncan
3. (tie) Jenks, Edmond North
5. Heritage Hall
6. Enid
7. Edmond Memorial
8. Broken Arrow
9. (tie) Bartlesville, Shawnee
11. (tie) Perry, Cascia Hall
Ed North: Nate Roper video…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I first saw Nate Roper at the Heritage Hall Tournament of Champions. All I could think was ‘who does this freshman think he is’?
He played with such poise against some of the best the state has to offer. He didn’t back down at all vs. Putnam North’s Chris Haworth. He wasn’t a star in the making…he was already there.
At No. 1 singles, Roper and Logon Collins of Union would have been a great battle. But at No. 2 singles, well, kinda felt like he was the favorite.
He was only 7-0 in the position coming into last weekend as he had spent the bulk of his season at No. 1 singles, playing whenever Casey Distaso elected to not play. Roper was right at home at No. 2 singles and was brilliant all tournament.
Getting 16 points from Roper (champion) and Distaso (runner-up) was a huge reason why the Huskies are walking around as champs right now.
Caught up with the freshman following his first (of what could be many) championships.
