Panther Tennis Team

Takes 1st Place in District 15-4A

Spring Tournament

    The Panther Tennis Team competed in the District 15-4A individual tennis tournament on April 5 & 6, 2004.  The Panthers and Pantherettes both took 1st place in team point standings.  "This was the best spring district that I have had in all my years of coaching.  I players were prepared and took four out of the eight Regional Qualifying spots in the tournament," Coach Simonek.  The Panthers and Pantherettes also had seven out of eight entries finish in 3rd place or better, and every entry made it to the District semi-finals.

    Leading the way for the Panthers was Zane Martindale in singles.  Martindale took the District 15-4A Championship over David Matthews (Waxahachie), 6-4, 6-4.  "Zane has done an awesome job since his freshman year at Midway.  He was a district runner-up his freshman and sophomore years.  It was really awesome to see him break through and get a well deserved District Title.  I am very proud of him," Coach Simonek. 

    Also doing well in the singles division was Evan Harder, who took 3rd place in Boys Singles.  "Evan really prepared well for this tournament.  He is very close to pushing over the edge and being at that elite level in this Region," Coach Simonek.  Harder lost to Matthews in the District 15-4A semifinals in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7.  Harder would come back and defeat Dan Butkus of Midlothian to take 3rd place in District 15-4A Singles.

    Continuing the Panthers Dominance in the Boys divisions was the Panthers Doubles teams, who took 1st and 2nd place in the tournament.  Jake Brunton/Jonathan Hudson took the District 15-4A Championship by defeating fellow teammates John Seward/Ben McCarter in the semi-finals, 6-3, 7-5.  "Both have these doubles teams did a fantastic job this spring and have really developed into solid doubles teams.  They both have great opportunities ahead of them at the Regional Tournament," Coach Simonek.

    The Pantherettes also had well founded success at the District Tournament.  Leading the way for the Pantherettes was the doubles tandem of Brittany Dunlap/Magaly Rivera.  Dunlap/Rivera took 2nd place in the Girls Doubles division.  Dunlap/Rivera would lose a tough match to Mertz/Giddens (Cleburne) in the finals, 3-6, 4-6.  They would then have to turn around and face fellow teammates Justine Duke/Ashley Foster in a playback match.  The playback would determine who would get 2nd place and have the opportunity to advance to Regionals.  "These are extremely tough matches when you have teammates battling each other for an opportunity to go to Regionals.  The both showed a lot of resolve and played the match to the fullest," Coach Simonek.  Dunlap/Rivera would defeat Duke/Foster 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 and win the opportunity to advance to Regionals.

    Rounding out the tournament for the Pantherettes was Lizzie McCarter and Alex Foster, who made a strong showing in Girls Singles for the Pantherettes.  McCarter took 2nd Place in girls singles and Foster took 3rd Place in Girls Singles.  "These two ladies did a great job all year long.  They came in and played key matches and tournaments as Freshman.  This is never an easy task, but they really stepped up and met the challenge.  I am very pleased with what they accomplished this year and expect big things for them as a part of Midway Tennis," Coach Simonek.