Trojan tennis lands 13th at Tournament of Champions

Competing in perhaps its most challenging tournament of the regular season, the Hillsboro tennis team settled for 13th place among 16 schools at Wichita Collegiate?s Tourna?ment of Champions on Saturday.

To score team points, competitors had to win their opening match. The only Trojan to get through that round was Amber Loewen, who defeated Snell from Ellinwood (8-0) in the singles draw to account for Hills?boro?s 5 points.

?That was a really nice win for her since it was a league school,? coach Lynn Wiebe said. ?I was also pleased that Amber did not give up any games in that match. She played steady.?

Loewen finished 1-2 for the day. Becky Faber, also playing singles, finished 2-2 after opening with a pair of losses.

?Becky is a scrambler,? Wiebe said. ?She puts everything she has into her game and hustles probably better than anyone.?

In doubles, Amanda Faber and Greta Wiebe lost a tough first-round match to Kapaun Mt. Carmel, then came back with two wins in the losers? bracket before finishing 2-3 with losses to Blue Valley and Collegiate.

The Trojan doubles team of Lauren Just and Anna Woelk lost all three of its matches.

?It was an extremely tough tournament,? coach Wiebe said. ?The competition included 16 teams at all class levels and from as far away as Kansas City.

?The Tournament of Cham?pions is an excellent tournament and a great experience.?

Hillsboro?Trojan teams finished second and seventh at their own invitational Thursday at the Sports Complex.

Playing with a split squad, Hillsboro Gold scored 60 points to trail Wichita Independent with 80. Following them were Sterling (52), Sacred Heart 49, Circle (34), Wichita Collegiate (24), Hillsboro Red (24) and Hutchinson Trinity (19).

In No. 1 singles, the Red team?s Becky Faber defeated Gold team member Amber Loewen (8-6) to claim third place.

Faber defeated Chelsea Ellis of Sacred Heart (8-3) and Katie Woods of Circle (8-7) before losing to Radha Nagireddy of Inde?pendent 1-8 in the semifinals.

Loewen received a bye in the first round, then defeated Amanda Johnson of Collegiate (8-3) before falling to Janet Prather of Sterling (6-8) in her semifinal match.

In No. 2 singles, Lauren Just placed second for Gold. She received a bye in the first round, defeated Ties Thompson of Trinity (8-1) and Jamie Gellerman (8-4) of Sterling before losing to Holly Jabara of Independent in the finals (3-8).

For the Red team, Elise Heyen lost to Olivia Newfarmer of Circle (0-8), defeated Brittney Herrs of Chapman (8-6) and lost a rematch with Newfarmer (0-6) for fifth place.

In No. 1 doubles, the Gold?s Amanda Faber and Greta Wiebe placed second. They defeated Abby Degner and Lizzie Degner of Trinity (8-5) and Carolyn McCullers and Kacee Britton of Sterling (8-6) before losing in the finals to Independent?s Claudia Nieuwoudt and Sam Eklund (3-8).

For the Red team, Julia Loewen and Kelsey Bartel lost to Kendall Bitante and Katie Schrader of Collegiate (5-8), Tamra Garner and Tonya Garner of Chapman (1-8) and Degner and Degner (2-8).

?This was a much better meet for us,? coach Lynn Wiebe said. ?Overall, the girls played great. We know we have our toughest meets ahead of us, but this was a nice pick-me-up since we have struggled a bit this year to find a lineup that will really click.?

Coming?The Trojan varsity will travel to Sterling on Satur?day for the Mid-Central Activities Association league meet. Matches begin at 9 a.m.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
MHS to host 5K run/walk on April 30
Marion High School Lifetime Fitness class is excited to host their 2nd...
Read More