The Brainerd girls are the new tennis kids on the block, but they play as though they have been long district champions.
Now in their second year of existence, the Panthers swept the singles and doubles titles Wednesday in the District 6 A-AA individual tournament at the Brainerd courts.
In a battle of the unbeaten seniors, Brainerd’s Jasmine Foster defeated Alex Bonner of Chattanooga Central for the Panther first ever district singles crown as both players advance to the region May 11 against the finalists from District 5.
In doubles the Canty sisters – Brittany and Brianna – won their second straight district title with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph against Rachel Thornbury-Linnea Lantz (Red Bank).
“I am proud of how we played today and all season” said Brainerd coach Al Canty.
“It’s great for our program and the school for us to be successful in tennis. I hope our success will draw more students to our program next year.”
Hixson Boys
He’s perfect in the classroom and perfect in district play. That’s Hixson junior and top-seed Alex Condra who defeated Red Bank sophomore and second seed Daniel Cox.
In the best match of the tournament with numerous, long, well-played points, Condra, who was down a break in the second set, won, 6-3, 6-3.
In the classroom, Condra is a straight A student who has been No.1 in his class since the elementary school and has never made a B.
“I felt some pressure before the district tournament as defending champion, but once the matches started I was able to focus on playing that match and not on the past,” said Condra who also finds time to do volunteer work at Erlanger Hospital as his life’s goal is to be a surgeon.
“My favorite subjects are English since I enjoy writing and grammar and math as I enjoy working with numbers.”
He is not the only player with high academic marks as fellow junior Richard Voung is No.3 in the junior class with a 99.3 (Condra is just over 100) and also plays the piano and clarinet.
Condra earned the highest GPA at Big Ridge Elementary for the combined grades of 3-4-5, and 6-7-8 a Hixson middle school, plus being No.1 as a freshman and sophomore.
Kudos to Hixson Coach Raul Fernandez and workers: Coach Fernandez and his volunteers did an excellent job throughout the two days.
District 6 A-AA Singles and Doubles
Teams: Brainerd, Chattanooga Central, East Ridge, Hixson, Lookout Valley, Red Bank, Van Buren
Boys Singles
Finals: (1) Alex Condra (Hixson) def. (2) Daniel Cox (RB), 6-3, 6-3
Semis: Condra def. Sam Turner (RB), 6-1 6-0; Cox def. Brett Kranske (Central), 6-2, 6-1
Condra wins his second district title
Boys Doubles
Finals: (1) Carl Phillips-Landon Goforth (Hix) def. Cody Schmidt-Josh Reed (RB), 6-3, 7-6 (5)
Semis: (1) Phillips Goforth (Hix) def. Camp-Paradis (RB), 6-2, 6-0; Schmidt-Reed def. Voung-Salinas (Hix), 3-6, 6-4 (10-5)
Girls Singles
Finals: (2) Jasmine Foster Br.) def. (1) Alex Bonner (Central), 6-3, 6-2
Semis: (2) Foster def. Caylee Schannuth (Hix), 6-1, 6-1; (2) Bonner def. Maggie Ozborn (Hix), 6-1, 6-0
Girls Doubles
Finals: (1) Brianna Canty-Brittney Canty (Br) def. Rachel Thornbury-Linnea Lantz (RB), 6-1, 6-3
Semis: (1) Canty-Canty (Br) def. Davis-Paradis (RB), 6-0, 6-0; (2) Thornbury-Lantz (RB) def. Nevels-Niznick (Hix), 6-1, 6-1.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net