2013 State Champions!
State Qualifiers 2013!
Keel, McMullen earn WOISD another historic gold honor
2013 UIL BOYS DOUBLES 2A STATE CHAMPS!
McMullen & Keel – First WO boys to make it to STATE TENNIS FINALS!
McMullen and Keel – 2nd in STATE!
White Oak doubles partners, Collin McMullen and Tyler Keel, finished second at the Class 2A UIL State Tennis Championships on Tuesday, May 1, at the University of Texas Penick-Allison Tennis Complex in Austin.
All five of White Oak’s state qualifiers made it to the final four at the state competition. McMullen and Keel, finalists, received silver medals. Teammates, Ian Story, boys singles, and Donald Griffin and Shelby Stillwell, mixed doubles, received bronze medals after being eliminated in the semifinals. This was the first year that every player advanced, and Coach Tammy Cloud contributed this achievement to their leadership, determination and strong work ethic.
Story opened the tournament with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Forsan’s Kyle Stevenson, but fell to Adam Lessner of Brock 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinal match.
Griffin and Stillwell notched a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 quarterfinal win over Lexington’s Mackenzie Brown and Eriq Mitchell after making a come from behind charge in the second set. “I knew we were the better team, but nerves and unforced errors were costing us. We had a meeting during the changeover and discussed how it wasn’t over until that last point and how much they wanted this win. They calmed down, and then they stepped up to take control,” said Coach Cloud. In a close semifinal match, Griffin and Stillwell came up short, 4-6, 4-6, against the Krum team of McKenna Barber and Christopher Atterberry.
McMullen and Keel began the tournament down after the first set, but then stepped up their game to defeat Krum opponents Zach Ripple and Tyler Sargent 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.
The White Oak duo then faced Ethan Arismendez and Heath Holt of Idalou in the semifinals. “I believe it was the most exciting match and amazing comeback that I have ever seen in high school tennis,” stated Coach Cloud. “For them to lose the first set 3-6, and be behind in the second set 0-5, and then fight their way to a tiebreaker and win it 7-5, was truly unbelievable. I mean it’s almost impossible for something like that to happen!” With their teammates cheering them on every point, McMullen and Keel then won the third set 6-3 to be the first White Oak boys ever to make it to the finals of the State Tennis Championships.
In the championship match, McMullen and Keel were challenged by the team of Gabe Knight and Josh Jones of Milsap. It was neck and neck all the way to the end with White Oak losing the hard fought battle 5-7, 5-7. “We played a good team, and we played them very well! The whole tournament these two guys fought to the very end and never gave up no matter the odds against them. As a coach, you can’t ask for more than that,” said a very proud Coach Cloud.
McMullen & Keel – State Finalists!
5 STATE QUALIFIERS!!!
Ian Story
Collin McMullen & Tyler Keel
Donald Griffin & Shelby Stillwell
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Boys & Girls win 2012 District Championship!
9 REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
Boys Singles – Ian Story – 1st
Boys Doubles – Collin McMullen & Tyler Keel – 1st
Girls Doubles – Joy Lowman & Kailee Simmons – 1st
Mixed Doubles – Donald Griffin & Shelby Stillwell – 1st
Blake Jennings & Hannah Ratzlaff – 2nd
Also medaling at the district tournament were:
Boys Doubles – Ethan Land & Carson Andrews – 3rd
Girls Doubles – Lucy Johnson & Michaela Wooddell – 4th
Boys Singles – Dylan Stone – 5th
Girls Singles – Claire Smallwood – 5th
Congratulations – JV Boys! District Champs!
Medalists were:
Boys Doubles – Mason Stith & Cody Griffin – 1st
Hagen Henson & AJ Blaylock – 2nd
Bryson White & Ty Miller – 4th
Boys Singles – Zack Lockridge – 1st
Dalton LaFerney – 2nd
Girls Singles – Lindsay Dyess – 4th
1st of 2012 – Gladewater Bear Club Tourney Results
Our first tournament included tough 3A competitors Gladewater, Spring Hill and Athens. It’s always a good tournament to help us realize our weak areas and what needs to be improved before we meet up with our district and regional opponents. Overall, we competed well, and if we just keep getting better from this point on, then we’ll have a very successful season.
Boys Doubles – 2nd place
Collin McMullen & Tyler Keel def. A. Armstrong & D. Blackmon of GW, 8-1, def. C. Hart & D. Mize of GW, 8-1, and then lost in the finals to T. Haug & A. Pack of SH, 2-6, 3-6.
Mixed Doubles – 3rd place
Donald Griffin & Shelby Stillwell def. E. Harris & D. McDonald of GW, 8-2, lost to C. Hargis & D. Droege of SH, 6-8, and def. L. White & N. Irwin of SH, 8-4.
Boys Singles – 4th place
Ethan Land def. B. Day of GW, 8-1, lost to T. LaJoie of SH, 0-8, and the lost in the third place match to Z. Phinney of GW, 5-8.
Girls Singles – Consolation Finals
Claire Smallwood lost to F. Robertson of GW, 1-8, def. R. Rivers of GW, 8-5, and then lost in the consolation finals to J. Moore of Athens, 5-8.