Panther Tennis Earns

7th Straight Team Tennis District Title

 

 

            The Panther Tennis Team finished off its 7th District Title in a row this Tuesday, October 14, 2008.  The Panthers won a tough and hotly contested match 10-5 against the undefeated and 9th ranked Corsicana Tigers.  “I am very proud of all of our players and the work they are putting into this year.  This was a great step in our team’s goals for the years.  Corsicana is a great team and I have a lot of respect for Coach White and his program,” Coach Simonek. 

           

The Panthers opened up an early 5-2 lead after the completion of the doubles play.  “Our players have been working extremely hard on their doubles plans and commitments this Fall.  They are looking to set the tone of the match as we head into singles.  I felt this was the best we have all played as a team in doubles – to this point of the season,” Coach Simonek. 

 

            Leading the way on the men’s side with a 6-1, 6-1 win was the number 1 Doubles tandem of Kolby Kilgo/Frankie Allinson.  “Kilgo/Allinson are having an awesome season in doubles.  They are 18-0 in doubles this fall and have defeated many great doubles teams from around the State,” Coach Simonek.  Following the 1 doubles was the #2 tandem of Evan Clark/Mitchell Myers.  Who won 6-2, 6-1 against Corsicana.  “I was so fired up for these guys.  They came together late in the season as a doubles team and they are really starting to come together as a true force in doubles,” Coach Simonek.

 

            The lady Panthers were locked in an early 3-1 lead with the completion of the #2 women’s doubles, Carina Mooslechner/Spencer Carlisle.  “This is another team that kind of came together for us late in the season.  They have done a phenomenal job and are undefeated since pairing up as a team,” Coach Simonek. 

 

            Corsicana would start to dig back into the doubles, pulling the count closer with a win in the mixed doubles and going up a set at 1 and 3 women’s doubles.  Our 1 and 3 teams played with a ton of heart and stayed the course to do whatever it took to get the win.  It was really awesome to see both of them fight back and to win in 3 sets,” Coach Simonek.  At #1 doubles Kenna Kilgo/Jessica Sawyer came back to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.  At #3 doubles Mary Beth Green/Danielle Zimmerman fought and won the final match to take the team up 5-2 with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory.

 

            The Panthers hit the court with full force taking 5 out of 8 singles matches completed.  Early singles wins by Frankie Allinson, Kolby Kilgo, Kenna Kilgo, and Jessica Sawyer helped put the Panthers up 9-6 in Singles play.  Carina Mooslechner finished off the match with a 6-4, 6-2 victory, finishing off match point with an Ace.  “Carina has been a great addition to our team this season, I was really happy that she got to experience finishing off the 10th win for the team,” Coach Simonek.

 

            The Panthers locked up the title and will head to A&M Consolidated to play a pre-regional match next Tuesday, October 21, 2008.  The following week they will travel to Grapevine to compete in the Region II Team Tennis Tournament.  “I really have a tremendous amount of love for these guys.  The whole team played a roll in our success today.  They have really pushed each other, stayed driven, and continue to strive towards their goals as a team,” Coach Simonek.

           

            Contributing members of the Panther Tennis Team’s success are: Hunter Harrell, Brian Bessellieu, Andy Salinas, Jacob Brendemuehl, Chris Bugh, Mitchell Coombs, Kevin Ho, Chad Davis, Kally Amos, Brittany Becker, Jennifer Sawyer, Meryl Anderegg, Mary Bumpass, and Emily Anderegg.