Racketcats off to strong district start

The Aledo varsity team tennis squad is off to a 2-0 start in District 5-5A play, opening with a thrilling 10-8 home win over Wichita Falls Rider last week and following this week with a 14-0 home whitewashing against Northwest.

The win over Rider, who eliminated Aledo from the postseason last season in the third round, came after a rain postponement and a six-hour match that included the lights going out. This was a highly competitive match, with seven of the 18 completed matches ending with tiebreakers. 

For the girls the No. 1 doubles team of Bryanna Orr and Kenley Germany split sets (2-6, 6-7), but lost in the tiebreaker. No. 2 doubles Elli Kate Bussmeir and Paige Federman also split sets (6-7, 6-2) and won with a tiebreak score of 10-7. No. 3 doubles Patrice Loftin and Natalie Nawrocki won their match (6-4, 6-2).

Ian Leslie

The boys’ top doubles duo of  Ian Leslie and Hogan Posey split sets (6-3, 3-6) but lost in a close tiebreaker (11-13). No. 2 doubles Craig Mason and Ben Farmer also split sets (6-4, 4-6) and lost in another close tiebreaker (8-10). The No. 3 doubles tandem of Jacob Heckathorn and Francois Britz lost their match (1-6, 0-6). 

In mixed doubles, Scott Mason and Eleanor Jack won their match (6-3, 6-0). 

With 10 matches necessary for the win, the team headed into singles competition with a deficit of 3-4. Winning their matches for the girls were No. 2 singles Elli Kate Bussmeir (6-3, 3-6, 10-8), No. 4 Paige Federman (6-2, 6-4) and No. 6 Gracie Heydman (7-5, 6-3). Winning their matches for the boys were No. 2 Scott Mason (2-6, 7-6, 10-6), No. 3 Hogan Posey (6-2, 6-3) and No. 5 Craig Mason (6-4, 6-4). 

With Aledo up 9-8, all eyes were on sophomores Jacob Heckathorn and Eleanor Jack as they finished their matches. Aledo was ahead in both matches and both matches were at match point as Heckathorn finished first (6-4, 7-5) for the Bearcat win. 

On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the team took on Northwest High School, new to the district this year, and earned a shutout victory over the Texans/Lady Texans. 

Girls doubles easily won their matches, with Orr and Germany winning 6-0, 6-0, Bussmeir and Federman winning 6-0, 6-0 and Natalie Nawrocki and Patrice Loftfin coming away 6-1, 6-3. 

Boys doubles Mason and Farmer won 6-2, 6-0 while Heckathorn and Britz won 6-3, 6-2. Leslie and Posey split sets, (6-4, 1-6), but won in the tiebreaker (10-8). Mixed doubles Mason and Jack split sets (6-1, 4-6), but also won in their tiebreaker, (10-3). 

Girls singles numbers 1-4 won their matches and clinched the win for the team. Boys numbers 1-3 were allowed to finish and also added to the winning tally. 

Leslie played for over two hours, split sets (7-6 with a 7-3 tiebreaker, 1-6, tiebreak 11-9) and ended the last match of the night for the 14th win. 

The Bearcats/Ladycats record currently stands at 8-2, with 2-0 in district play. The team will travel to Saginaw on Tuesday, Sept. 6 for the next district match.