Queen City’s Cade Warren placed second in boys’ singles and Zoe Breach placed third in girls’ singles at the JV District Tennis Tournament in Atlanta recently.
McLeod’s Kannon Dempsey placed first in boys’ singles, Austin McGray and Chassie Gryder placed first in mixed doubles and Jaxon Smith and Jase Deaton placed second in boys’ doubles at the district varsity tennis meet.
Queen City tennis players Clare Wong and Vincent Wong both earned Regional titles and will head to the State level tournament.
Clare Wong, Vincent Wong earn State trip
Queen City tennis player, Clare Wong, has been in this situation before. A year ago, she made her way through the Regional Tennis Tournament and made her way to State.
This year she rolled through the UIL Regional Tennis Tournament held at Cascades Country Club in Tyler Apr. 11-12, and earned another trip to the State Tournament.
The Class 3A defending state champion in girls’ singles only lost one game in the entire tourney.
Clare received a first-round bye then beat an opponent from Elysian Field 6-0, 6-0, beat an opponent from Lone Oak 6-0, 6-0, and topped her final opponent from Gunter 6-1, 6-0.
Vincent Wong is making his first appearance in the State tournament and is only a sophomore.
His first match in the Regional tournament was a 6-1, 6-1 win over an opponent from Callisburg, then he defeated an opponent from Lone Oak 6-0, 6-1 and an opponent from Gunter 6-1, 6-3 before beating Atlanta’s Will Davis 6-0, 6-1 for the Regional title.
When asked what goal he set before the season began, Vincent replied, “Ever since I lost the regional quarterfinals match last year, I’ve told myself and others around me I was going to win state. Probably almost every day if not multiple times a day. Now that the opportunity is here it’s my chance to prove to myself that I really can do it and become a state champ.”
When asked how it feels to make it to the State level, Vincent said, “A chance to go to state feels great. I’m excited but I know I’m not finished. No matter what happens I know I’m going back soon. As for now I’m focused on getting this championship right here.”
When asked what goes through his mind before each match, he remarked, “I try and clear out my mind before the match. Some people try to relax. I don’t even think about relaxing or anything. I’m just there. When I’m warming up before the match, I’m feeling my opponent up and seeing his weaknesses. I am thinking about how I am going to use my strengths to exploit and attack those holes.”
The State meet will be in San Antonio on Tuesday, Apr. 25 and Wednesday, Apr. 26.