It’s been a great week for Webster County tennis in Oxford as both East Webster and Eupora earned spots in the state championship semifinals.
On top of the fact that the Eagles and Wolverines got to play in the semifinal round, each team also had multiple players competing for individual state championships.
The Eagles came up just short for a district championship a couple of weeks ago in a strong division but went through three rounds of tennis action with wins and made it to Oxford. Competing on Monday afternoon against one of the best programs in the state in Sacred Heart.
Coach Randee Jernigan was left emotional after her team’s performance against the eventual 2A state champions. Eupora put itself in position to win the match with super tiebreakers but ultimately fell in a hard-fought 4-3 defeat.
“We were so close. I never imagined that we would be that close,” Jernigan said. “I told them that all I could have asked for is the best and they gave it to me. There was nothing that we could hold our head about. We’ve been looking through the window for eight years and now we’re in the game. I’m so proud of our kids.”
Eupora wasn’t done after that tough loss to the eventual champs. Loralee Jernigan competed in the individual championships for girls singles and made it to the semifinals. Defending girls doubles state champions Ava McCain and Kaitlyn Edwards were also set for the state semis and putting their titles on the line on Wednesday.
Both of those matches took place after press time.
For the Wolverines, it was also a tough matchup against one of the top teams in the state. They also would be matched up with the eventual state champions as St. Stanislaus took the match 5-2 against EWHS.
“I knew all along they were going to be good. They had no gimme courts,” coach Robbie Brown said. “Every court was solid and I knew that someone would have to step up and win a tough match and it was them. The best team won. They were deep and the matchups hit just right.”
Like the Eagles, EWHS had several players that advanced in the individual tournament and they were in position to win state titles.
Jalyn Brock and Cooper Stidham were state champs in 2A a season ago for mixed doubles and the two had a chance on Wednesday to get a state title in 3A after beating St. Stanislaus 6-1 and 6-0 in the semifinals. Mason Brand beat St. Patrick in boys singles with a 6-3 and 6-1 win and Levi Elkins and Barrett Gregg were set to compete for the title in boys doubles after beating St. Stanislaus in a super tiebreaker, 10-5.
The Webster Progress-Times will have updates on these student athletes and their work in the state championships in next week’s paper.
