Keel, McMullen earn WOISD another historic gold honor

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     White Oak Tennis joins the rank of history makers at WOISD.
     Tyler Keel and Collin McMullen were the first boys ever in the history of White Oak tennis to win a UIL State Championship .
     Their ultimate dream this season was to win gold at the duo’s third and final appearance at the state tournament.
     In 2012 , Keel and McMullen took second place standing, so nothing but the state title would be good enough for them this trip.
     On April 30, they reached their high school career goal by capturing the UIL Class 2A Boys Doubles title at Texas A&M University’s Mitchell Tennis Center.
     The seniors completed their third consecutive trip to state with a commanding victory against Kountze’s Drew Anderson and Landry Linn, 6-1, 6-2.
     Keel and McMullen dominated the the three round bracket with wins against East Bernard’s Mac Gideon and Caleb Gideon in the quarterfinals 6-1, 6-0, and Wall’s Rhett Jones and Will Adams in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-1.
     Keel and McMullen were joined at state by teammates Donald Griffin and Shelby Stillwell, who fell in the first round of the mixed doubles division 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, to Tulia’s Carlos Subealdea and Madison Hoelting — the eventual state champs.
     “I am so happy for these guys. No words can describe the emotions you have when that final point is scored and you get to watch your players celebrate that long awaited victory. All year Tyler and Collin told me they were going to win the state championship and obviously they meant it. From the moment they received that silver medal last year, they were determined to put in the time and effort it would take to achieve their goal of gold!  They had a dream, and they worked hard to make it happen,” said a very proud Coach Cloud.

McMullen & Keel – First WO boys to make it to STATE TENNIS FINALS!

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Collin and Tyler celebrate a much needed point in their amazing comeback win in the state semifinal match.

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. 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Boys & Girls win 2012 District Championship!

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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

Ian Story - ACE?

 

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

WO Tennis District Champs 2012

 

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