Midway Panther Tennis
2003 Team Tennis
District 15-AAAA Champions
Region II Semi-finalist
The Panther Tennis Team wrapped up an awesome fall campaign with a 3rd Place finish at the Region II Team Tennis Tournament. The Panthers also ended the season ranked 9th in the State of Texas in 4A Team Tennis. "This team showed a lot of resolve this year. They faced some adversity early in the season, but came together and pushed into Regionals with a vengeance. It was their focus, desire and concern for one another that pushed them to the top," Coach Simonek.
The Panthers opened the season with a 2nd place Finish in the Midway Team Tennis Tournament. The Panthers went 2-1 in the tournament. They opened up the season with a victory over Robinson and then pushed past Belton 11-8 to get to the tournament finals. In the finals the Panthers lost a back and forth match 9-10 to Harker Heights. The Panthers would head into district play with a 5-3 record after going 1-2 at the highly competitive Austin Westlake/Westwood Team Tennis Tournament.
The Panthers would roll through District with a 5-0 record. At the end of the season the District title came down to a match with District rival Cleburne. In 2002 the Panthers defeated Cleburne 10-9 at home to take the District Championship. This year the Panthers had to travel to Cleburne and fight for the title on the Jackets home court. "We were so focused and intent on what we were doing it was awesome," Coach Simonek. The Panthers crushed the Jackets 13-6 and retained their District 15-AAAA Championship. The Panthers would head into the Regional Tournament with a 10-5 record.
The Panthers went into the Region II tournament with momentum and ready to face the competition from the toughest region in the state. Eight out of the 16 teams in the Regional tournament were ranked in the State top 20. "This region is extremely competitive from top to bottom," Coach Simonek. The Panthers opened up the tournament with a 10 - 6 victory over top 20 ranked Denison. Then in the Regional Quarterfinals the Panthers would face top 10 ranked Ennis. "We have always had tight matches with Ennis and came up just short. We have a great and competitive rivalry together, and we knew that this would come down to the wire," Coach Simonek.
The Panthers jumped to an Early lead against Ennis 4-3 after the doubles match play. "We were up by the same score earlier this year and Ennis came back to defeat us 9-10. We really had to step-up and finish this off in the singles play," Coach Simonek. The match would go back and forth as singles matches came off the court. The Panthers would fall behind 7-9 with three matches left on the courts. The Panthers dug in and tied the match up at 9-9. The last match left on the courts was senior, Justine Duke, who had been fighting leg cramps since the doubles matches. "Justine really part her heart on the court and fought through the full leg cramps. We were forced to take our two injury time-outs and if she went down again we would have to default the match," Coach Simonek. Duke continued to fight and stay on her feet. She would finish off the match and get the decisive 10-9 victory with a 6-4, 7-5 win. "This was by far the greatest match that I have had as a coach. The players really played with all that they had and were intense on getting the victory. I am so proud of this team," Coach Simonek.
The Panthers would move into the Region II Semifinal and face #5 JJ Pearce. The Panthers again came out of doubles victorious but fell just short of the victory with a 7-10 loss. "We are so close to making the Regional Final. These players deserve every bit of success that they had this weekend," Coach Simonek. The Panthers still had one more match, facing Kilgore for 3rd place in the Region. The Panthers would turn it on and take 3rd place in the Region with a 10-7 victory over top 20 Kilgore. "We are very excited about the direction of the program. These players are showing the movement towards competitive greatness. I am very excited as we head into the spring season," Coach Simonek.