Four members of the Bobcat Tennis team hit the road last weekend to compete in the 3A Region III Tournament in College Station, TX. The day started early for the singles competitors with both Cane Ritchey and Izzy Mills hitting the court at 8:30 to open play.
Mills, who was runner-up in last month’s district tournament, faced the toughest task to get things started as she drew Madilynn Hamilton of McGregor. Hamilton would go on to win her second consecutive regional championship, but not before getting all she wanted from Izzy who showed up ready to play. Of the four matches the state qualifier had in this weekend’s tournament, Izzy played her better than anyone she faced until the finals.
Cane Ritchey came into the day very optimistic after finishing second to one of the top players in the region at the district tournament. Ritchey had little trouble with his first round opponent, Ben Pepper of Keene, defeating him (6-1,6-0). The second round would be a different story though as Cane had to face the three seed, Nicholas Hammonds, out of Little River Academy. Ritchey gave it his all, but eventually fell to Hammonds (6-3,6-4).
Back-to-back District Champions and returning regional qualifiers in Mixed Doubles, Adam Tsan and Ava Walker, breezed through their first match as well. The two went on much later in the day, but quickly shook off the rust, dispatching Landry Lykke and Olivia Padilla of Central Heights (6-2,6-2). The pair then ran into one of the best teams in the region in Thrall’s Payton Gillmore and Harleigh Barrett. The duo battled it out in an effort to push their stay to the semifinals, but did not seem to have enough left in the tank to overcome the eventual regional finalists as Thrall finished 2nd overall and advanced to state.
With 3 of their 4 qualifiers being sophomores the Bobcats should return to make a run at a state qualifying bid next season!
Lastly, we’d be remiss not to mention Orangefield’s lone senior at regionals, Adam Tsan. Having earned 8 medals (3 first place, 5 second place) on the season along with a second consecutive trip to regionals as a district champion, Adam played the final match in what was a very decorated high school tennis career. He along with the other five senior Bobcats will be missed, but have laid a foundation to build upon in the years to come!
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