After earning nearly half of the 3rd Region’s qualifying spots, local tennis players begin their quest for a state title today at the state championships.
The Top Seed Tennis Club/KHSAA Tennis Championships will feature two rounds per day, with the semifinals and finals set for Saturday at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary J. Boone/Downing Tennis Complex in Lexington.
The Owensboro Catholic girls’ team largely dominated the region tournament to earn three bids at state. Sarah Kate Young easily finished as the singles champion, while the Lady Aces took the top two spots in doubles play.
Ashley Fulkerson/Sarah Englert beat teammates Alyssa Gatten/Olivia Hayden, but both tandems advanced. Fulkerson/Englert earned a seeded position, meaning they won’t play another seeded team any earlier than the third round.
Also competing in the girls’ doubles competition at state will be Apollo’s Caitlyn Blandford/Madalyn Hyland, who lost in the region semifinals to Gatten/Hayden. The two teams would meet again in the third round of state if they each win their first two matches.
On the boys’ side, both Daviess County and Owensboro will have competitors in singles and doubles play.
The Panthers’ George Hulse beat out the Red Devils’ Dylan Mather in a tight regional championship, and the two would square off again if they each win their first match at state.
The Daviess County duo of Dylan McDuffee/Chris Salamah will try for a state doubles title after finishing runner-up at region.
For Owensboro, the doubles teams of Paul Iracane/Will Clark and AJ Iracance/Grayson McFarland both advanced to state after falling in the semifinals of region.
