Well, we have had some great tennis weather the last three weeks, some days a little cool and windy, but overall, we have been blessed with mostly warm, sunny days.  During our first match of 2012, we found out that we definitely need some more work to accomplish the goals we have set for this season.  Gladewater (3A) always has a strong tennis program, so playing them helps us to know what level of play we need to achieve to compete with the best 2A opponents.  Our score was 3 – 15, but half of our losses were by only 2 or 3 games.  So…it’s a starting point and we’re going to improve greatly from here on out.

Results vs. 3A Gladewater

Boys Singles:  Collin McMullen vs. B. Bundrick, 5-8;  Donald Griffin vs. Cade Hart, 8-6;  Tyler Keel vs. Ty Mesker, 8-6;  Blake Jennings vs. Dakota Mize, 0-8;  Ethan Land vs. Zach Phinney, 6-8;  Bryson White vs. Elliott Harris, 0-8;  Dylan Stone vs. Grayson, 6-8.

Boys Doubles:  McMullen/Keel vs. Hart/Mize, 8-4;  Jennings/Land vs. Mesker/Mitchell, 8-9, tb 5-7;  Stone/Mason Stith vs. Bundrick/Palmer, 4-8; Jordan Wyatt/Ty Miller vs. Murphy/Selman, 5-8;  Hagan Henson/AJ Blaylock vs. Murphy/Day, 6-8;  Wyatt/Dalton LaFerney vs. Murphy/Selman, 3-8.

Girls Singles:  Hannah Ratzlaff vs. Kadi Huff, 3-8;  Claire Smallwood vs. D’asa McDonald, 1-8;  Shelby Stillwell vs. Katy Stephens, 3-8. 

Girls Doubles:  Smallwood/Ratzlaff vs. Stephens/Perry, 0-8.

Mixed Doubles:  Donald Griffin/Stillwell vs. Bundrick/Palmer, 1-8.

You tennis players that are not in basketball need to find your racquets, dust them off, and start hitting some tennis balls at every opportunity. 

We will begin our season on January 9, 2012, the week after we return from the Christmas Holidays.  Our first match is January 26. 

Help!  Our team is short of girls at the moment, so if you know someone who can play or  learn quickly, get them to come out.  The varsity tennis team needs more girls!!!  Guys…help some girls learn to play tennis, you might need them as a doubles partner.

Ian Story

Jessica Fears & Mandy Belew

Jake Moyers & Donald Griffin

Tyler Keel & Collin McMullen

 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. 
 
“We were very excited to have seven qualify for state in 2011.  Everyone has worked extra hard this year to reach that ultimate goal of playing for the state championship and three almost made it to the finals.  This has been an amazing season, because our team has had the leadership of several seniors that have been playing varsity tennis for four years.  I love them all…almost like my own children…and I will miss them greatly.”

Results 19-2A District Tennis Tournament

Wednesday, April 6^th and Thursday, April 7^th

Held in Hughes Springs, TX

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 20^th and Thursday, April 21^st.

Our courts still look great after their resurfacing last December.  Thanks again to Mike Gilbert, Kenny Corbell, Tracy Blankenship, Booster Club, WO Maintenance, Community Members, School Board, Parents, and WO Tennis Players for making it possible.

Thanks for some amazing memories!  May your future be full of God’s blessings.

State Medalists!

 

  

 

Austin Simmons and Brittany Stone

made it to the Final 4 at the State Tennis Tournament and won bronze medals in mixed doubles.

Way to go!

Together...we can do this.

 

 

 

Congratulations to all our state qualifiers!

    Ian, JD, Paige, Brittany and Austin.

You represented White Oak well at the state tournament and your coach was very proud of you. 

We’ll be back!