Varsity tennis teams power through to district

The Jacksonville varsity tennis team competed in the Whitehouse tournament Friday-Saturday, March 22-23.

The girls doubles duo of Katlin Gonzalez and Alejandra Hernandez captured first.

Following a first-round bye, the pair defeated Whitehouse (6-3, 4-6, 7-6) to enter the semifinals where they defeated a team from Mansfield Legacy (6-2, 6-4). In the final round, the girls beat Henderson (6-0, 6-1) to take the win.

Haley George and Bianka Cornejo also competed in girls doubles.

The team of Thomas Brewer and Alex Hassell placed third in boys doubles. After defeating opponents in the first two rounds (6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2), the pair lost in the semis to Whitehouse (5-7, 1-6). They defeated Mansfield Legacy (6-3, 6-1) to capture third.

Casey Coughlin and Juan Guerrero also participated in boys doubles competition, defeating Lufkin, but losing to Mansfield Legacy.

Lizbet Saldana and Bryan Gluck participated as a mixed doubles team as did Abby Matthis and Eduardo Rodriguez.

In boys singles, Saul Martinez took top honors. He defeated T.K. Gorman (6-0, 6-1), Whitehouse (6-2, 6-2) and Henderson (6-3, 6-3) to enter the finals where he won over Whitehouse (7-6, 3-6, 6-0).

Carlos Camacho also participated in boys singles, defeating Marshall before falling to Mansfield Legacy.

Autumn Terrell participated in girls singles. After losing to Lufkin (0-6, 1-6), she beat Henderson (6-1, 6-2), Hudson (6-2, 6-0) and Henderson (6-0, 6-1) to become consolation winner.

Angelica Alvarez, participating in girls singles, beat Hudson but lost to Mansfield Legacy. The team also competed in the Bryan Rudder Tournament March 29-30, finishing sixth out of 17 teams.

Saul Martinez and Carlos Camacho placed ninth and 10th, respectively, in boys singles. In girls singles, Autumn Terrell placed 15th and Angelica Alvarez, 19th.

The boys doubles team of Thomas Brewer and Alex Hassell finished in 10th place and Juan Guerrero and Sergio Rivera finished 13th. Kaitlin Gonzalez and Alejandra Hernandez placed highest of all Jacksonville participants, finishing seventh in girls doubles.

Haley George and Bianka Cornejo finished 22nd.

In mixed doubles, Lizbet Saldana and Bryan Gluck finished in 13th place while Abby Mathis and Eduardo Rodriguez finished at 24th.

Jacksonville’s next District tennis competition will be held on April 4-5.

Troup High School hosted a doubles tournament Tuesday, March 26, in which Chapel Hill, Frankston, New Summerfield and Sabine competed along with the host team.

The girls doubles team of Morgan Colvin and Audrey Hartley took first place. The pair beat Denson/Berry of Chapel Hill, 6-1, Flores/Reyes of Sabine, 6-1, Davidson/Walls of Sabine, 6-0, and Abby/Zandra of Frankston, 6-4. As the undefeated duo in round robin play, Colvin and Hartley became the champions of the tournament.
The boys doubles team of Raul Moreno and Jacob Nelson captured second after beating Gonzales/Johnson of Chapel Hill, 6-0, and Renfro/Foster of Sabine, 6-4.

They lost in the finals to Aburayan/Brannon of Chapel Hill, 6-2, to finish second.

Zac Deramee and Clayton Vickers also placed in the tournament. After losing the first round to a team from Chapel Hill, 6-4, the pair defeated duos from Frankston, 6-3, and New Summerfield, 6-4, to take third.