TOPEKA, Kan. — Several area girls tennis players will look to close their seasons with state medals as the Kansas State High School Activities Association holds its state championships Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17, at three locations across the state.
McPherson, Buhler and Hesston will be among the area teams competing in Class 4A at the Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka, while Sterling and Haven will have representatives in the Class 3-1A tournament at the same facility. Newton will compete in Class 5A at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
McPherson will enter the Class 4A tournament with a full lineup of six qualifiers, including both regional singles finalists and the top two doubles teams from its home regional.
Sophomore Mayson Wiens captured the regional singles championship and enters state with a 22-7 record. Senior McKenna Paul also qualified after placing fifth at regionals and carries a 22-8 record into the weekend.
The Bullpups will also be represented by one of the state's top doubles tandems in senior Avery Unruh and junior Quinn Liebl, who enter the tournament with a 30-2 record after winning the regional championship. Senior Dragon Rodriguez and sophomore Lleyton Kuhn finished second at regionals and bring a 16-6 record into state competition.
Buhler will send three entries to the Class 4A tournament, led by junior Sofia Spies, who placed second at the Wichita Collegiate regional. Spies enters state with a 28-5 record.
Senior Addy Tech also qualified in singles after placing fifth at regionals and owns a 16-11 record. In doubles, senior Emily Allen and sophomore Gabriella Gillespie will represent the Crusaders after a fourth-place regional finish. The duo enters state at 17-10.
Hesston will have three doubles and singles entries competing in Topeka.
Sophomore Laine Widener leads the Swathers' singles qualifiers after placing fourth at the Wichita Collegiate regional. Widener enters state with a 15-13 record.
In doubles, senior Aubrey Koehn and sophomore Sage Bartel finished third at regionals and enter the state tournament at 18-7. Sophomore Zoe Dryden and senior Candice Tolle also qualified after finishing fifth, bringing an impressive 19-3 record into the weekend.
In Class 3-1A, Sterling will be represented by three entries following a strong showing at the Lyons regional.
Junior Lauren Rowland finished second in singles and enters state with a 22-4 record.
The Black Bears also boast one of the top doubles teams in the classification. Senior Danika Zimmerman and freshman Emma Lewis won the regional championship and enter state with a 28-1 record. Junior Emma Kelso and sophomore Kate McGlynn also advanced after finishing second at regionals and carry an 18-8 record.
Haven senior Kensie Popp will represent the Wildcats in Class 3-1A singles after a runner-up finish at the Conway Springs regional. Popp brings a 21-6 record into the state tournament.
In Class 5A, Newton will have three entries at the Andover District Tennis Complex.
Junior Lily Graber qualified in singles after placing sixth at the Andover regional and enters state with a 12-15 record.
The Railers will also have senior Holly Goodnite and sophomore Rory Duncan competing in doubles. The pair finished sixth at regionals and holds a 7-15 record.
Competition in all classifications begins Friday and concludes Saturday. Class 6A will be held at the Riverside Tennis Complex in Wichita, Class 5A in Andover and Classes 4A and 3-1A in Topeka.
Class 5A
Andover District Tennis Complex — Andover
Newton
- Singles: Lily Graber (12-15)
- Doubles: Holly Goodnite/Rory Duncan (7-15)
Class 4A
Kossover Tennis Center — Topeka
McPherson
- Singles: Mayson Wiens (22-7), McKenna Paul (22-8)
- Doubles: Avery Unruh/Quinn Liebl (30-2), Dragon Rodriguez/Lleyton Kuhn (16-6)
Buhler
- Singles: Sofia Spies (28-5), Addy Tech (16-11)
- Doubles: Emily Allen/Gabriella Gillespie (17-10)
Hesston
- Singles: Laine Widener (15-13)
- Doubles: Aubrey Koehn/Sage Bartel (18-7), Zoe Dryden/Candice Tolle (19-3)
Class 3-1A
Kossover Tennis Center — Topeka
Sterling
- Singles: Lauren Rowland (22-4)
- Doubles: Danika Zimmerman/Emma Lewis (28-1), Emma Kelso/Kate McGlynn (18-8)
Haven
- Singles: Kensie Popp (21-6)