Panther Doubles Teams Roll at Ennis Tournament

    On Friday, February 13, 2004, the Midway Panther Tennis Team competed in the Ennis Valentines Classic.  The Panthers were once again rolling to success as they faced some of the top teams in Region II.  "This was a great tournament for us to have an opportunity to play the teams we will see in our Regional Tournament.  I am very pleased and know that we have some huge opportunities for us this spring," Coach Simonek.

     The doubles teams led the way for the Panthers at the tournament.  "This was a great weekend for our doubles teams.  They were very dominating in the matches that they played and generated a lot of confidence in their direction," Coach Simonek.  Leading the way in doubles was the tandem of Jake Brunton/Jonathan Hudson.  Brunton/Hudson dominated their way to the semifinals.  In the opening round they defeated Edgerly/Rettig (Groesbeck) 6-1, 6-3 and in the Quarterfinals they defeated Pippin/Morgan (Texas High) 6-1, 6-1.  "These guys really played well this weekend and were committed to doing the right things on the court," Coach Simonek. 

     Also doing well for the Panthers in doubles were John Seward/Ben McCarter and Magaly Rivera/Brittany Dunlap.  Seward/McCarter made it to the semifinals of B Doubles.  The duo opened the tournament with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Dickson/Murray (Sherman) and came back to win their quarterfinal match in three sets against Barton/Tucker (Kaufman) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.  Leading the way for the Pantherettes was the tandem of Rivera/Dunlap, who made it to the semifinals of Girls B Doubles.  Rivera/Dunlap opened the tournament by defeating Garda/Franks (Waxahachie) 6-0, 6-0 and continued to roll in the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Pechal/Huff (Ennis).  "All of the doubles were doing awesome.  It was a bad break that the weather kept them from finishing the tournament Saturday.  I know that they would have continued to roll and carry their momentum forward," Coach Simonek.

     The singles players also saw success in each bracket.  "The singles draws were very deep with talent on each level.  All of our players did a great job in starting out with wins and making it to the quarterfinals in singles," Coach Simonek.  Zane Martindale defeated Casey Wharton (Groesbeck) 6-4, 7-5 before losing to Kaleb Smith (Kilgore) 5-7, 4-6 in the quarterfinals.  Evan Harder defeated Stephan Dozier (Whitehouse) 6-1, 6-0, then lost to Spencer Kendrick 6-7, 6-7 (Highland Park) in the quarterfinals.  Lizzie McCarter defeated Jessica Brewer (Waxahachie) 6-0, 6-2 before losing to 2003 State Runner-up, Jessica Wente (Whitehouse), 2-6, 1-6.  Alex Foster defeated Chanel Bolen (Denison) 6-1, 6-2, then lost to Molly Green (McKinney North) 2-6, 1-6. 

     "I was definitely happy with our play and effort this weekend.  We had to get whatever practice in we could all week, due to the elements.  We now turn our focus to the Corsicana Tournament.  This gives us another opportunity to make a statement against the teams that we will see in the District and Regional Tournaments," Coach Simonek.  The Panther Tennis Team plays in the Mertz Classic in Corsicana on Friday & Saturday, February 27 & 28, 2004.