Panther Tennis Team

Takes 2nd Place in Consolation at Westlake Tournament

    The Panther Tennis Team took 2nd place in the Austin Westlake/Westwood Tournament this weekend, September 9 & 10.  The Panthers were the only 4A team in the tournament, which was filled with top 20 5A Tennis Teams.  "We came to the tournament to find out where we are at this time of the year.  There are a lot of positive things that we found out about our team.  We were also able to determine the areas that we need to work on.  I am very proud of our players and the heart that they continue to show on the court," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers opened the tournament with a 7 - 10 heart-breaking loss to Austin Westwood.  "This was the one match I really felt that we let slip away from us this weekend.  We had opportunities that we just did not close out," Coach Simonek.  The Panthers would learn from their missed opportuities though and come back to defeat Austin Anderson in the first round of consolation 10 - 8.  "I felt that the players did an outstanding job of coming back and making adjustments in their games.  They stepped up and played a great match against a very strong team," Coach Simonek.

    The Panthers would face top 10 ranked Midland Lee in the consolation final.  The Panthers would fall to the Rebels 3 - 10.  "This was a lot closer than the score.  We were up a set in almost every match that was left on and pushing to win the second sets.  If we finished out the match it could have easily been as close as 9 - 10," Coach Simonek.

    Winning matches for the Panthers in the Westlake/Westwood Tournament were Zane Martindale, Jon Hudson, Evan Harder, Ben McCarter, Mark Palladino, Ross Natividad, Lizzie McCarter, Magaly Rivera, Brittany Dunlap, Alex Foster, Elizabeth Allinson, Lindsey Harrell and Colleen Myers.  The Panthers will face the Ennis Lions on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 in a classic rematch of the August barn burner.  Come out and support the Panthers at 4:00 at the Midway High School Courts.