SALT LAKE CITY-Friday, the 3-A state girls tennis tournament commenced with several Mid-Utah Radio Sports Network athletes excelling at the Liberty Park tennis courts of Salt Lake City.
In first singles, Manti junior Sadie Cox prevailed 6-1, 5-3 over Rowland Hall sophomore Tennyson Seethaler. Additionally, Juab senior Jessie Bills downed Grand junior Maara Holyoak, 6-5, 4-2. Also advancing in first singles was Delta senior Katelyn Tolbert who prevailed 7-3, 4-3 over Emery senior Jordynn Wolford. Bills later advanced to the semifinals by besting Judge’s Anderson, 6
Cox moved on to face Saint Joseph senior Abby Francl who downed Richfield junior Sarah Utley, 10-0, 4-4.
Bills moved on to face Judge Memorial senior Olivia Anderson who bested senior Nakiah Taylor of North Sanpete 7-3, 4-1. Bills later advanced to the semifinals by besting Judge’s Anderson, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.
Tolbert faces Morgan freshman Katelyn Steel, an 8-0, 6-4 winner over South Sevier junior Janessa Gayler. Steel downed Tolbert 6-2, 6-1.
In second singles, Richfield senior Ellie Hair downed Providence Hall junior Hailee Sumpter 10-3, 5-0. She is facing Judge Memorial senior Hannah Gose, who downed Maeser Prep sophomore Kelsey Ortega, 8-0, 6-1. Gose prevailed against Hair 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Juab senior Keanna Williams downed Grantsville sophomore Lacy Linares 5-2, 5-3. She next draws Waterford senior Paige Smaglio, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over South Sevier junior Gabby Carter.
Manti junior Jolee Gillett downed Rowland Hall freshman Alivia Boe 6-4, 4-1 and awaits the winner of Grand senior Kiersten Kimmerle and Union junior Summer Price.
In third singles, Juab senior Olivia Foster downed Gunnison Valley sophomore Soraya Leatherwood 6-1, 7-3.
Richfield senior Madison Lewis downed Waterford sophomore Bailey Norris 6-2, 6-1 and later downed Foster, before falling to Morgan senior Erin Bartol.
Sophomore Mia Parkinson of Maeser Prep downed South Sevier junior Hannah Gay 6-4, 4-3 while Morgan senior Erin Bartol downed Delta senior Lindsay Jones 7-3, 4-1. Manti junior Emma Jorgensen downed Emery junior Carlie Bennett 6-4, 4-3. She will face Judge senior Aria Handlon 7-5, 5-1 in the quarterfinals.
In 3-A girls first doubles, Richfield juniors Marissa McIff and Piper Harris bested Morgan juniors Katie Castro and Quyncee Dorius 9-4, 4-1. In the second round, they draw Waterford seniors Isabel Hammond and Lauren Forkner.
Juab senior Jennifer Kool and freshman Emmalee Wilmore bested South Sevier juniors Morgan Blackburn and Aubree Robinson 6-1, 6-4 and next face Grantsville senior Brynlee Butler and her junior teammate Hailee Johnson.
Manti junior Alexis Naylor and her freshman teammate, Heidi Jorgensen, downed Maeser Prep junior Sydney Sevy and sophomore Maddy Gulbrandsen. They will face Gunnison Valley’s team of seniors Kaylee Dyring and Berkley Peterson as they downed Rowland Hall seniors Tala Shihab and Violette Truong 9-5, 3-1.
In second doubles, Richfield’s team of junior Karsyn Harris and sophomore Aubrie Jorgensen bested Saint Joseph’s sophomore Jacquelyn Arlofski and freshman Reilly Hurst 10-3, 5-0. They will face Grantsville senior Savannah Curtis and sophomore Audrey Curtis.
Juab seniors Madison Webster and Kathryn Welburn downed Judge seniors Christina Valentine and Emma Willis 6-1, 7-1. They next face Emery juniors Shaylee Grange and Megan Hess.
Headed into Saturday’s competition, in first singles, Manti’s Sadie Cox and Juab’s Jessie Bills will meet in the semifinals.
Manti’s Jolee Gillett meets Ashley McMillan of Morgan in the second singles semifinals. Juab’s Olivia Foster draws Morgan’s Erin Bartol in the third singles semifinals.
Kaylee Dyring and Berkley Peterson of Gunnison Valley meet Judge’s Alysa Gribben and Isabella Valles in the first doubles semifinals.
In the second doubles semifinals, Richfield’s Karsyn Harris and Aubrei Jorgensen meet Waterford’s Siya Pandit and Delaney Huefner. Additionally, Juab’s Madison Webster and Kathryn Welburn meet Caroline Applegate and Madeline Frazier on the other side of the semifinals in this bracket.
