The Class 4A mixed doubles finals saw a rematch between the Randall duo of Dax Betzen and Kynley Craddock and Canyon’s Bradley Enriquez and Hannah Terry. Betzen and Craddock, silver and gold medalists in different events at last year’s state meet, picked up wins over the Eagles netters at both the district and regional round.

With that as the backdrop the Raiders pair jumped out early in the match to grab the first set 6-1 on the back of their forehands and net play. However, the Canyon netters were unfazed as they played tough in a back and forth second set that was full of energy on both sides.  

With the heat bearing down on Betzen, who’s sporting a full beard for his part in the One Act Play next week, and the diminutive Craddock, the two needed just one serve break to claim gold. At 5-4, they did just that and let out a loud yes as they nailed down a gold medal and victory.  

Randall head tennis coach Darby Norman was full of praise for both sides after the match. 

“Give Canyon credit they fought hard and refused to back down,” Norman said. “I’m so proud of our kids because they played motivated and focused the entire match”.

On the court next to the mixed doubles pair was their teammates Gabby Dishong and Emmalee Sillivent.  Dishong, last year’s state champ in girls’ doubles playing alongside Craddock, was looking to close out her high school career on top but it wasn’t going to be easy.

In the semis they picked up a split set win over Fredericksburg’s Gabriella Sifford and Angela Lopez, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, to earn a spot in the finals.  Across the net in the final match was Wimberly’s Kennedy and Lillian Kate Carson. The pair had beaten Dishong in team tennis in doubles in the fall so she was aware of how tough this match would be.

The match was close early on as Sillivent looked like the gritty veteran keeping the pair in the match.  “There was a lot of pressure on Emmalee this week and she came through with flying colors” quipped Norman.  I had to challenge them early in the match and Dishong said that was just what she needed.

Dishong and Sillivent locked up that first set 6-4 and refused to give the Texans pair any shot at winning the second set by staying steady and picking up a 6-3 second set and gold medals around their necks.

Coach Norman was beaming afterwards about the doubles group.   What an amazing day to battle the heat, nerves and get two gold medals is incredible.  To see the kids put in the work and get the rewards from it is truly fabulous.

Silver shines through

Joining Canyon’s Enriquez and Terry with silver on the day was a trio of players. In Class 5A, Sara Shelhamer of Amarillo High ran through a gauntlet of talent including a semifinal victory, 6-3, 6-4, over Reyna Xiao of Veterans Memorial before facing off with a familiar foe in Hope Willis of Abilene Wylie.

Willis took down Shelhamer in the Regional Finals and just proved to be too much for the talented sophomore again picking up a 6-4, 6-1 win in the girls singles final.

In Class 4A, Cooper Richardson continued to play steady tennis over two days and picked up a grueling and hard-earned three set victory over Pinkston’s Malcolm Moore, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7). Richardson thwarted a couple of match points in that win to move on to the finals.

Waiting across the net in that final match was Panther Creek sophomore Aariz Rehman. Despite the booming serve and forehand from Rehman, the Wolves junior kept himself in the match by virtually getting to everything and forcing the Panther Creek star into unforced errors.  

Up 5-4, the demonstrative Rehman used that serve to grab the first set and then set out with an onslaught of power to overtake Richardson 6-1 in the second set and a gold medal.

Across town, the only UIL Class 1A athletes playing for gold was Miami’s hard hitting doubles team of Will Sims and Breken Early.  After a two-set win over Menard’s Zeke Hernandez and Cado Bannowsky, 7-6 (2), 6-4, the Warriors netters moved on to the finals to face off with the Benjamin brother duo of Keegan and Tallon Hayes.

In a spirited match, the Mustangs brother combo got up early and took a 6-2 opening set win and matched that in the second set to claim the win and the title.

State quick hits

The Amarillo-area saw six entries claim bronze as each picked up early wins before falling in the semifinals. Hereford’s Brandon Ysaguirre capped a tremendous career with a third place showing in the Class 4A boys singles by falling to Rehman in the semis. Also, in the Class 1A boys’ singles, Angel Ochoa fell to the eventual state champion Friday morning to garner third.

Southwestern Oklahoma State signee in basketball, Kasidy Russell of McLean, gained bronze in the Class 1A girls singles while a pair of Nazareth girls doubles team also notched a third-place spot. Sisters Maddie and Kate Brockman and Taryn Wethington and Kambri Cleavinger fought hard in the semis before dropping their matches.  

In mixed doubles in Class 1A, their teammates Caysen High and Brooklyn Birkenfeld, a Wayland Baptist basketball signed, dropped a heartbreaker in the semis to pick up bronze as well.

For a full look at all of the action at the UIL State meet you can follow the link below https://playtennis.usta.com/competitions/texastenniscoachesassociation/Tournaments/draws/A1911377-7397-4CEF-98A7-F79AC2429F64/255AF6EF-28F6-422C-B8B7-7C10C5D6892C