Tuesday, May 08, 2012
- by B.B. Branton
Cleveland won the boys’ District 5-AAA tennis title and ended McMinn County’s two-year reign as champions, while the girls’ champion will be determined Wednesday in a playoff.
On the strength of a singles champion and a doubles runner-up, the Blue Raiders rallied to tie Rhea County for first with eight points in the district tournament. Cleveland was declared the overall district champion since it won the regular season.
Entering Tuesday’s semis and finals, McMinn County and Rhea County were in first with six points, while Cleveland was in second with five points.
On the girls’ side, Walker Valley rallied with a singles champion and doubles runner-up to beat Soddy Daisy for the district tournament championship, eight points to seven. Soddy Daisy is the regular season winner, thus forcing a playoff match for the district title between the two teams Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Middle Valley.
The Trojans entered the final day with six points, while Walker Valley had five.
Boys’ Champions: Alex Klibisz (Cleveland) won the singles crown, while Zach Madewell/Nick McWherter (Rhea Co.) captured the doubles title.
Girls’ Champion: MacLain Yowarski (Walker Valley) won the singles and Taylor Thompson/Victoria Williams (McMinn County) won doubles.
District 5-AAA
Boys’ Results
Team Standings (1 team point per win)
1. (tie) Rhea County, Cleveland (8) 3. McMinn County (7) 4. Ooltewah (4) 5. Soddy Daisy (2) 6. Walker Valley (1) 7. Bradley County 0.
Singles
Championship: (1) Alex Klibisz (Cleve) def. (2) Michael Barlok (Rhea Co.), 6-0, 6-3
Semis: Klibisz (Cleve) def. Bryson Lype (Ool), 6-3, 6-2; Barlok (Rhea Co.) def. Zach Dye (Rhea Co.), 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
Championship: (2) Zach Madewell/Nick McWherter (Rhea Co.) def. Zach Barringer/Jake Gibson (Cleve), 6-1, 6-2
Semis: (1) Barringer/Gibson (Cleve) def. Cody Esparza/Paran Patel (McMinn Co.), 6-0, 6-4; (2) Madewell/McWherter (Rhea Co.) def. Richard Huynh/Brady Matthews (Ool), 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
Girls Results:
Team Standings (1 team point per team)
1 Walker Valley (8) 2. Soddy Daisy (7) 3. McMinn Co. (6) 4. (tie) Rhea County, Cleveland (4) 6. Ooltewah (1) 7. Bradley Central (0)
** Playoff: Wed. May 9 at Middle Valley - Walker Valley vs. Soddy Daisy for district title
Singles
Championship: Maclain Yowarski (Walker Valley) def. Callie Brannon (Soddy Daisy), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Semis: Yowarski def. Kaitlyn Barlok (McMinn Co.), 6-4, 6-1; Brannon (SD) def. Maddie Ohlsson (Cleveland), 6-1, 6-2
Doubles:
Championship: Taylor Thompson/Victoria Williams (McMinn Co.) def. Wendi Watson/Jami Gibson (Walker Valley), 6-3, 6-1
Semis: Thompson/William (McMinn Co.) def. Kayley Argo/Melanie Johnston (Rhea Co.), 6-1, 6-2; Watson/Gibson (Walker Vly) def. Abigail Ellis/Rachel Hargis (Soddy Daisy), 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net