Panther Tennis Team

Goes 3-1 at Region II Team Tennis Tournament

Finishes in 5th Place

    The Panther Tennis Team took 5th Place this past weekend, October 29 & 30,  in the Region II Team Tennis Tournament.  The Panthers competed in a field of 8 top 20 teams.  "This is an outstanding tournament.  There are 6 teams that have all been in  the State top 10 this year.  I am very proud of our players and the way that they played in the tournament," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers started the tournament with a 10-1 victory over Crowley.  "We started out so strong in doubles.  It was great to see all the work that we put into doubles paying off for us," Coach Simonek.  The Panthers took an early 6-1 lead after the doubles match play.  Winning key matches for the panthers in doubles were Hudson/McCarter, Martindale/Harder, Palladino/Kidwell, McCarter/Allinson, Dunlap/Rivera, and Foster/Myers.

    The Panthers continued the momentum in singles play, not even dropping a set against Crowley.  Leading the way for the Panthers was Zane Martindale, who defeated Jason Brown of Crowley 6-2, 6-0.  "Zane did an awesome job in his singles match.  He dictated the play on his court and was in control of the match from start to finish," Coach Simonek.  Also winning matches in singles to finish off the match were Evan Harder, Mark Palladino, and Brittany Dunlap.

    The Panthers would move on to face the Number 3 seed, McKinney North, in the Quarterfinal Round.  The Panthers would lose a hard fought match 6-10.  "It was a great match between two very strong teams.  It was like playing ourselves on the courts.  Our players fought back and forth with McKinney North all afternoon, but in the end they played just a little better than we did that day," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers would get a break the rest of the day and start playing for 5th place on Saturday, October 30, 2004.  The Panthers would open up Saturday with a 19-0 win over Mesquite Poteet.  This would set up the 5th place match against Frisco.  "Frisco is a great team that has been in the top 10 all year.  Our players were excited and pumped about playing their last match of the Fall together," Coach Simonek.

    The players enthusiasm showed as the Panthers jumped out to an early 4-3 lead after doubles match play.  "We played great doubles to finish out the tournament.  Even in the losses, they were tough three set matches that Frisco edged us out on," Coach Simonek.  Winning doubles matches for the Panthers were Hudson/McCarter, Martindale/Harder, Palladino/Kidwell, and McCarter/Allinson.

    The Panthers stepped up in the singles play and were in control of all matches that were on the courts.  The Panthers quickly won three singles matches: Zane Martindale, Evan Harder, and Jon Hudson.  "These guys have been an unbelievable one, two, three this year.  They have won a ton of crucial matches for us," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers were up in the remaining matches with a score of 7-3.  The match was delayed by rain and eventually conceded by the Frisco coach sue to the continuing drizzle.  "I was very happy with the way our players came out and looked to finish off their weekend.  We played a great tournament and are looking forward to an awesome spring season," Coach Simonek.