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- WHS Tennis (Woodard): Williamstown No. 1 singles participant Brady Woodard returns a forehand throughout the Class AA/A, Region I staff competitors, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
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- WHS Tennis (Deem): Williamstown No. 4 singles participant Lauren Deem chases down a backhand throughout the Class AA/A, Region I staff competitors, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
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- WHS Tennis (Girls): The Williamstown High School girls tennis staff defeatedWheeling Central and Oak Glen to declare the Class AA/A, Region I staff championship, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
WHS Tennis (Woodard): Williamstown No. 1 singles participant Brady Woodard returns a forehand throughout the Class AA/A, Region I staff competitors, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
By KERRY PATRICK
Sports Writer
PARKERSBURG – Like clockwork.
After rolling through the common season undefeated, each the boys and girls tennis packages from Williamstown started its postseason quest with out a lot incident throughout the staff competitors part of the Class AA/A, Region I match.
Neither staff dropped a sport because the Yellowjackets blanked Ravenswood and Wheeling Central on the boys facet, whereas the WHS girls turned in similar ends in shutting out Wheeling Central and Oak Glen.
WHS Tennis (Deem): Williamstown No. 4 singles participant Lauren Deem chases down a backhand throughout the Class AA/A, Region I staff competitors, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
“The postseason is what we have been waiting for – we have been looking forward to it,” Williamstown coach Diana Leo stated. “We knew we had a good chance because we had gone undefeated for both the boys and girls.”
Seniors on each groups embraced their closing quest for competing on the state degree. Lauren Deem stuffed her function at No. 4 singles and joined Parkersburg High School switch Emily Pritchett as winners at No. 2 singles.
In a way of irony, WHS girls clinched the regional championship behind Deem and Pritchett. Last season, Pritchett was concerned within the win which clinched a regional title for PHS.
“Our connection in doubles is going really well,” Deem stated. “I’ve recognized Emily for some time. We play tennis within the offseason collectively. We performed in a few tournaments earlier than the season and we actually clicked.
“We had a little flub up today, but we found our groove. We just kind of took a step back and focused on communicating, and really just playing safe.”
In the boys discipline, Deem’s classmate Brady Woodard didn’t enable a sport to both of his two singles opponents. His doubles companion of two years Isaac Harris have been on the identical web page as nicely for one other two non-dramatical wins.
“We all played solid,” stated Woodard, who performs No. 1 singles for the Yellowjackets. “Last yr was the primary time enjoying doubles with Isaac, so it was positively a bit trickier studying to play with one other companion.
“But this year, it feels much smoother. We played tournaments outside of the season, and it’s gone better.”
When the staff competitors resumes on the state degree one week from Thursday in Charleston, the WHS girls can be searching for a second straight state title. The Yellowjacket boys positioned runner-up a yr in the past.
“It’s my last year here and I would love to get a state championship,” Woodard stated. “We have to go through all these other teams and if we can get to the finals it would be a hard match.”
WHS Tennis (Girls): The Williamstown High School girls tennis staff defeatedWheeling Central and Oak Glen to declare the Class AA/A, Region I staff championship, Monday at City Park in Parkersburg. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Anderson)
Charleston Catholic figures to be the hardest hurdle for the WHS boys. As for the Yellowjacket girls, all the staff isn’t shy about citing the topic for a potential repeat.
“Honestly, we bring it up quite a bit,” Deem stated. “We have a superb staff. We have lots of people on our staff who can get us that far.
“We’ve definitely been working in the offseason, staying late after practice and coming in early to practice on weekends, too. So our team is definitely putting in the work for it.”
Late Monday afternoon as soon as the staff portion was full, a number of matches for the single-elimination doubles bracket have been performed out. The plan is to have the whole bracket completed by the tip of day Tuesday. The prime two placers advance to the state degree.
With a menace of rain on Wednesday, a number of hours of matches for the singles bracket will transfer indoors to the Greenmont Racquet and Swim Club in Vienna then wrap up on Thursday.
The prime 4 placewinners in singles additionally advance to state.
“Being my senior year, I’m just trying to have fun with it and get a state title,” stated Woodard, who was a member when the boys received a staff title two years in the past. “This year, I’m just here for the ride. Whatever happens, happens.”
Class AA/A, Region I
At City Park, Parkersburg
Team Competition
Girls
Quarterfinals: Wheeling Central def. Weir; Oak Glen def. St. Marys; Ravenswood def. East Fairmont. Williamstown acquired a bye.
Semifinals: Oak Glen def. Ravenswood; Williamstown def. Wheeling Central
Championship: Williamstown def. Oak Glen
Boys
Quarterfinals: Ravenswood def. Parkersburg Catholic; Weir def. North Marion. Wheeling Central and Williamstown acquired a bye.
Semifinals: Williamstown def. Ravenswood; Wheeling Central, def. Weir
Championship: Williamstown def. Wheeling Central