DOBSON/BERGER WIN #1 DOUBLES
By William
HESSTON – Despite playing without their returning state champion, the McPherson High girls tennis team opened their 2020 season with a second-place finish on Thursday at the Hesston Invitational in Hesston.
Buhler took the team title with 24 points while the Lady Bullpups scored 20 which was good for second place in the team standings. Maize South and Wichita Collegiate rounded out the top four of the eight team meet.
Missing at the moment was Lady Bullpups 2019 doubles champion CeAnna Allen who was away dealing with a tragic accident that took the life of a close family member.
“This team will just continue to get better and better,” noted Head Coach Tyler Brown. “I truly believe we will be one of the best teams in the state. Once our confidence continues to grow I have no doubt we will be a contender at the state tournament! We had a loved one pass away this past weekend in a tragic accident that weighed on many of our hearts. CeAnna (Allen) was missed this weekend but I have no doubt when she comes back, she will pick up where she left off last season.”
The Lady Bullpups scored a first-place gold at #1 Doubles when Maddie Dobson and Taylor Berger went 3-0 for the day.
Coach Brown had high praises for the pair when he said, “For today, Maddie (Dobson) and Taylor (Berger) looked outstanding. They have put in an unbelievable amount of work on the court as they came into the season with something to prove and it showed today! I’ll go into my office late at night at the high school and look over at the tennis courts and likely will see the lights on and who do I see putting in the extra work, these two.”
Patty Huerta scored two wins and a loss in #1 Singles to finish third at the meet while the #2 Doubles duo of Perrin Schneider and Sydney Achilles also went 2-1 and placed third.
“Patty (Huerta) also has lived on the court this summer and her work ethic is evident,” added Coach Brown. “She came out focused and beat a very good player from Hesston 8-0. She also played one of the best girls in the state from Wichita Trinity Academy in the semifinals and lost, but the loss didn’t phase her and she cranked it up again and beat the girl from Buhler who came into the meet ranked in the top-10 in Class 4A to take third place. There is no doubt that Patty is playing the best singles on the team right now.”
With the third place finish in #2 doubles, Coach Brown commented, “Perrin (Schneider) and Sydney (Achilles) did their thing at #2 doubles by finishing third. They had a little bit of a hiccup in the semi-finals but then regrouped in the third place match to end the day 2-1. Once their confidence continues to grow, they will be a tough out for any team.”
At #2 Singles, Carley Malm finished 1-2 to place sixth.
Coach Brown concluded his reflections on the season opener by saying, “Carley (Malm) finished sixth, but she showed unbelievable fight today with all three matches being close. When things maybe weren’t going her way, she could of easily folded but she continued to fight even though she may have not of played her best tennis today. You have to admire her fight.”
The Lady Bullpup tennis team will be back on the competitive court next Thursday, September 3rd when they play host to their own McPherson Invitational.
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