2A UIL State Tennis Meet 2011
Three White Oak players made it to the final four and received bronze medals at the 2A State Tennis Tournament held in Austin, at World of Tennis at Lakeway, May 9-10. Boys singles player, Ian Story, opened action on Monday with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) win over Wade Dillenbeck of Schulenburg in the quarterfinals, but then lost to Jesse Guerra of Tornillo, the eventual state champion, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the semifinals. The girls doubles team of Jessica Fears and Mandy Belew, eliminated Crystal Zepeda and Unike Rodriguez of Dilley 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals before losing to the soon to be state champions Kayla Casey and Carrie Casey of Franklin 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals.
White Oak’s other state qualifiers, two boys doubles teams, Jake Moyers and Donald Griffin, suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss to future state champions, J.J. Cestero and Brice Conoly of Wall, and Tyler Keel and Collin McMullen dropped a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 decision to Taylor Lloyd and Austin Mays of Tuscola Jim Ned in quarterfinal action.
2A Regional Tennis Tournament
Seven White Oak players qualified for State…two more than last year!!! 3 seniors…Jake Moyers, Mandy Belew and Jessica Fears, 1 junior…Ian Story, 3 sophomores…Tyler Keel, Collin McMullen and Donald Griffin. “I was so proud of all our regional qualifiers because they played fearlessly against all opponents during the tournament. It’s very exciting having three experienced senior players qualifying because they have worked so hard the last 4 years to reach that goal. The four younger players have also devoted many extra hours to perfecting their skills after practices, and it obviously paid off for them. All seven State Qualifiers are definitely determined to achieve that State Championship title, and hopefully, White Oak will have some repeats in the next couple of years.”
White Oak Dominates First Day Of Regional Tennis
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
A year ago, White Oak tennis enjoyed its most successful season in recent memory by sending a singles player and two doubles teams to the state tournament.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Roughnecks returned to the Class 2A Region III tournament and provided more impressive performances.
White Oak advanced to the semifinals in all five singles and doubles events at Tyler Junior College’s JoAnn Medlock Murphy and Brookshire tennis centers.
Top-seeded Ian Story dominated his first two matches to continue defense of his 2010 regional title in boy singles. The junior beat Woodville’s Sean O’Neal 6-0, 6-1 in the opening round and shut down Lone Oak’s Caleb Wommack 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.
Story, who fell in his first match at state last spring, will meet East Chambers’ Spencer Glenn in the semifinals at 9 a.m. today (start time for all semifinals). The winner will take on either Kountze’s Laramie Linn or Daingerfield’s Brian Williams for the title at 1 p.m. today (start time for all finals).
Of course, Story isn’t the only White Oak player with a state berth on his mind.
That could be said in girls singles for Bre Simmons, who opened with commanding wins against Sabine’s Brittany Wilson (6-0, 6-3) and Central Heights’ Faith Badders. Up next is a semifinal with top-seeded Zoe Zebranek of East Chambers, who beat Redwater’s Lauren Hammonds and Edgewood’s Kayl Douglas without dropping a set.
The other semifinals matchup features Central Heights’ Anna Chaddick and Edgewood’s Michaela Mooney, who eased past Anderson-Shiro’s Tonya Lambert 6-0, 6-0 and Anahuac’s Erin Henry 6-1, 6-0.
Also competing for a trip to Austin is the mixed doubles team of J.D. Richardson and Paige Norris, who fell in last year’s title match against fellow Roughnecks Austin Simmons and Brittany Stone. Hoping to return to state as regional champs this time, Richardson and Norris won their opening match 6-1, 6-2 against a team from Kountze and second 6-1, 6-2 against a squad from Centerville.
White Oak’s boys doubles team of Collin McMullen and Tyler Keel advanced with 6-0, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-2 wins against Trinity and Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, respectively.
The Roughnecks boys doubles team of Jake Moyers and Donald Griffin continued through the bracket with 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-0 victories against West Rusk (Bradley Hammett and Josh Medford) and Warren, respectively.
White Oak’s girls doubles squad of Jessica Fears and Mandy Belew prevailed 6-0, 6-0 against Anderson-Shiro and 6-3, 6-0 versus East Chambers.
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White Oak Runs Away From Field At Regionals
By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer
The White Oak tennis team came through on the second and final day of the Class 2A Region III tennis tournament Thursday at Tyler Junior College’s JoAnn Medlock Murphy Tennis Center.
The Roughnecks and Lady ‘Necks qualified for state in three of the five events to advance multiple players to Austin for the second straight season.
No. 1 seed Ian Story won the boys singles championship for the second straight year, beating Kountze’s Laramie Linn 6-0, 6-4 in the final.
The girls doubles team of Jessica Fears and Mandy Belew also claimed a regional title, as did the boys doubles squad of Jake Moyers and Donald Griffin.
White Oak’s Collin McMullen and Tyler Keel also advanced to state after falling to their teammates in the championship match.
White Oak also came close to advancing in girls singles and mixed doubles, but Bre Simmons and the team of J.D. Richardson and Paige Norris came up short in playback matches.
The Class 2A state tournament is scheduled for May 9-10 at the World of Tennis at Lakeway.
Story, who hopes to advance in the state bracket after dropping his first-round match last year as a sophomore, breezed through the regional tournament without dropping a set. The only time he was challenged in four matches was in the second set against Linn, when the Kountze player slowed the pace.
Story said he put a great deal of expectations on himself this year.
“I expected to do it after winning it last year,” the junior said. “There was a little pressure because I was expected to win.”
Moyers and Griffin, meanwhile, captured the regional title in their first tournament together. Griffin was an alternate in boys doubles after getting third in district in boys singles.
“I was scared at first because I had to switch partners and I wasn’t playing good with anybody,” Moyers said. “I was starting to get nervous because it’s my senior year and my last chance to go to state. I was scared until I found Donald.”
Added Griffin, a sophomore: “It’s kind of overwhelming. My sophomore year I thought it was just going to be a progression. …but (state) came this year.”
East Chambers’ Zoe Zebranek won the girls singles title.
Class 2A Region III Tennis Championships
At TJC’s JoAnn Medlock Murphy Tennis Center
Second Round
Girls Singles
Semifinals — Zoe Zebranek, East Chambers, d. Bre Simmons, White Oak, 6-0, 6-1; Michaela Mooney, Edgewood, d. Anna Chaddick, Central Heights, 6-1, 6-0.
Final — Zebranek d. Mooney, 6-1, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3).
Playback — Mooney d. Simmons.
Boys Singles
Semifinals — Ian Story, White Oak, d. Spencer Glenn, East Chambers, 6-1, 6-2; Laramie Linn, Kountze, d. Brian Williams, Daingerfield, 6-4, 6-2.
Final — Story d. Linn, 6-0, 6-4.
Girls Doubles
Semifinals — Aranda-Chandler, Buna, d. Allred-Allred, Alba-Golden, 6-2, 6-0; Fears-Belew, White Oak, d. Schumacher-Bradley, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, 6-1, 6-1.
Final — Fears-Belew d. Aranda-Chandler, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Playback — Aranda-Chandler d. Schumacher-Bradley, 6-2, 6-3.
Boys Doubles
Semifinals — McMullen-Keel, White Oak, d. Gibson-Gilfillian, East Chambers, 6-2, 6-1; Moyers-Gibson d. Goedz-Richardson, Centerville, 6-4, 7-5.
Final — Moyers-Griffin d. McMullen-Keel, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Mixed Doubles
Semifinals — Richardson-Norris, White Oak, d. Miller-Dinger, Woodville, 6-2, 6-1; Word-Ward, Centerville, d. Short-Sharff, Edgewood, 7-5, 6-3.
Final — Word-Ward d. Richardson-Norris, 6-4, 6-4.
Playback — Short-Sharff d. Richardson-Norris, 6-2, 6-4
19-2A District Tennis Tournament
Girls District Champions – White Oak (16.5 points)
Girls District Runner-Up – Hughes Springs (6.5 points)
Boys District Champions – White Oak (17 points)
Boys District Runner-Up – Daingerfield (6.25 points)
White Oak captured the crown in all 5 divisions of the District 19-2A Tennis Tournament. The results are as follows:
Girls Singles
Bre Simmons of White Oak defeated Alanah Sloan of Hughes Springs 6-4, 6-0 to win the girls singles title. Hannah Ratzlaff of White Oak defeated Carmie Beal of Ore City 7-5, 6-2 in the third place match.
Boys Singles
Ian Story of White Oak defeated Brian Williams of Daingerfield 7-6(7-2), 6-4 to win the boys singles title. Donald Griffin of White Oak defeated David Dorantes of Daingerfield 6-3, 6-1 in the third place match.
Girls Doubles
Jessica Fears and Mandy Belew of White Oak defeated Jasmine Martinez and Lisa Preuninger of Hughes Springs 6-0, 6-2 to win the girls doubles title. Whitney Simmons and Avery Christensen of White Oak defeated Enissa Lopez and Annie Reel of Ore City 6-2, 6-0 in the third place match.
Boys Doubles
Collin McMullen and Tyler Keel of White Oak defeated teammates Jake Moyers and Austin McMullen 6-1, 6-1 to win the boys doubles title. Moyers and A. McMullen then defeated Javier Dorantes and Luis Dorantes of Hughes Springs 6-1, 6-0 in a playback match to advance to the regional tournament.
Mixed Doubles
J.D. Richardson and Paige Norris of White Oak defeated teammates Trent Terry and Shelby Stillwell 7-6(7-4), 6-3 to capture the mixed doubles crown. Edward Green and Holly Hartgrove of Daingerfield finished third.
First and second place winners advance to the regional tournament to be held at Tyler Junior College on Wednesday, April 20th and Thursday, April 21st.
Nacogdoches Gold Invitational
White Oak Tennis competed in the Nacogdoches Gold Invitational Tournament on March 24-26, and brought home several medals. “For a change, I thought we would travel a different direction and play some new teams this tournament. We had never met Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Central Heights, Diboll, Gary, or Grace, so we didn’t know what to expect. I was hoping we would be challenged a little more, but overall, our competition helped us to realize areas in which we need more practice before the district tournament next week.” White Oak will play their 19-2A District Tennis Tournament next week, April 6-7, at Hughes Springs High School.
Varsity Division
Boys Singles
Ian Story – 2nd place – def. Clark Rab (CH) 6-3, 6-1; def. Addison Hester (L) 6-2, 6-1; def. in finals by Danny Feld (L) 4-6, 2-6.
Donald Griffin – 3rd place – def. Reid Russell (CH) 6-0, 6-0; def. Justin Paul (GR) 6-0, 7-5; def. by Feld (L) 3-6, 6-7 TB 5-7; def. Hester (L) 6-3, 7-6 TB 7-4.
Cory Jones – 5th place – def. Andrew Dodson (Nac) 7-6 TB 7-3, 7-5; def. Feld (L) 1-6, 1-6; def. Paul (GR) 6-4, 6-0; def. Chris James (L) 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
Girls Singles
Bre Simmons – 3rd place – def. Jade Vest (CH) 6-0, 6-0; def. Ande Wallace (Nac) 6-0, 6-1; def. by Beth Aquilar (L) 4-6, 6-7 TB 4-7; def. Elizabeth Oates (GR) 5-7, 6-1, 6-0.
Hannah Ratzlaff – Consolation – def. by Oates (GR) 1-6, 0-6; def. Samantha Hay (G)3-6, 6-3, 10-3; def. Ivy Acevedo (D) 6-0, 6-0; def. Katalyn Bird (G) 6-3, 6-3.
Boys Doubles
Collin McMullen/Tyler Keel – 1st place – def. Herzog/Semon (CH) 6-1, 6-1; def. Pass/Woods (G) 6-1, 6-4; def. in finals Moyers/A. McMullen (WO) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Jake Moyers/Austin McMullen – 2nd place – def. Langford/Fillmore (GR) 6-2, 6-2; def. Tate/Reinen (Nac) 7-6 TB 7-3, 6-2; in finals def. by C. McMullen/Keel (WO) 6-4, 4-6, 2-6.
Girls Doubles
Mandy Belew/Jessica Fears – 3rd place – def. Hooper/Davis (G) 6-1, 6-0; def. by Hodge/Bentley (GR) 3-6, 5-7; def. Britain/Mouton (Nac) 6-1, 6-0.
Mixed Doubles
JD Richardson/Paige Norris – 1st place – def. Magoro/Dyess (GR) 6-3, 6-1; def. Hoepfner/Guerrero (L) 6-0, 6-3; def. Terry/Stillwell (WO) 6-2, 6-4.
Trent Terry/Shelby Stillwell – 2nd place – def. Ratley/Odom (G) 6-0, 6-1; Reis/Taylor (GR) 6-0, 6-3; in finals def. by Richardson/Norris (WO) 2-6, 4-6.
JV Division
Boys Doubles
Carson Andrews/Dylan Stone – 1st place – def. Jordan/Wood (Kilgore) 6-2, 6-3; def. White/Wyatt (WO) 6-3, 6-1; def. Ricks/Pressley(Kilgore) 3-6, 7-6 TB 7-4, 6-3.
Bryson White/Jordan Wyatt – 4th place – def. by Andrews/Stone (WO) 3-6, 1-6; def. by Nelson/Creasey (Nac) 0-6, 0-6.
Gladewater Winter Classic
Girls Doubles:
1st – Mandy Belew & Jessica Fears (WO) def. Bundrick/Morris (G) 8-0, def. Cameron/Chatterton (SH) 8-1, and in the championship match def. Goodson/Pearson (G) 6-4, 6-4.
Mixed Doubles:
Donald Griffin & Shelby Stillwell won consolation. Hargis/Pack (SH) def. Griffin/Stillwell (WO) 9-7, Griffin/Stillwell (WO) def. Hunt/Chapel (H) 8-1, and in the finals Griffin/Stillwell (WO) def. Arnhardt/Hammond (H) 8-1
Boys Singles:
Cory Jones won consolation. T. Lajoie (SH) def. Jones (WO) 8-4, Jones (WO) def. L. Howie (G) 8-3, and in the finals def. T. Caldarera (SH) 8-1.
Boys Doubles:
4th – Austin McMullen & Collin McMullen (WO) def. Arnhardt/Hardeman (H) 8-0, Holt/Bundrick (G) def. A. McMullen/C. McMullen 8-5, Alm/Kirby (SH) def. McMullens (WO) 8-2.
White Oak Tennis Team, varsity and JV, competed in the Gladewater Winter Classic on Saturday, February 12, against 3A Gladewater and Springhill and 4A Hallsville. “This was our first tournament of the season and due to the weather and several conflicts, we had to mix and match our varsity and JV players to make a competitive team. Even with some playing with new partners and some playing their first matches ever, we still competed well with three of this area’s strongest tennis teams.”
WHITE OAK 8, KILGORE 10
Boys Singles
Osteen (K) def. Donald Griffin (WO) 8-1; Tankersley (K) def. Jake Moyers (WO) 8-3; Barnfield (K) def. Trent Terry (WO) 8-3; Collin McMullen (WO) def. Horton (K) 8-0; Blake Jennings (WO) def. Presley (K) 8-2; Ethan Land (WO) def. Ricks (K) 8-3.
Boys Doubles
Osteen and Tapia (K) def. Austin McMullen and Moyers (WO) 8-6; Griffin and C. McMullen (WO) def. Tankersley and Horton (K) 8-0.
Girls Singles
Compton (K) def. Paige Norris (WO) 8-3; Jessica Fears (WO) def. Williams (K) 8-4; Worden (K) def. Breanna Simmons (WO) 8-0; Barnfield (K) def. Mandy Belew (WO) 9-7; Broussard (K) def. Shelby Stillwell (WO) 8-2; Hannah Ratzlaff (WO) def. Whitfield (K) 8-3.
Girls Doubles
Worden and Compton (K) def. Fears and Belew (WO) 8-2; Patel and Barnfield (K) def. Ratzlaff and Stillwell (WO) 8-0.
Mixed Doubles
Terry and Norris (WO) def. Barnfield and Broussard (K) 9-8, 7-2 TB; Jennings and Stillwell (WO) def. Garcia and Ricks (K) 8-5.
The White Oak Tennis Team opened the 2011 season January 25 with a match against 4-A Kilgore. White Oak graduated 4 of its major players last year, but the outlook is still great for the coming season. We have some very talented sophomores that are very capable of stepping up to the challenge at the varsity level, so White Oak should have another very successful year.