CORPUS CHRISTI — The Thrall Tigers qualified seven for the region four tennis tournament in Corpus Christi this week. The Tigers were represented in all five divisions, with Payton Gillmore advancing the state tournament.
Gillmore advanced to the finals of the boys singles division with wins over players from Normangee and Saratoga West Hardin in his opening two matches. In the semifinals, Gillmore faced off against Mason’s Russell Watson. Watson took the opening set 6-4, but Gillmore bounced back to take sets two and three by identical 6-3 scores to advance to the championship match.
“Payton was playing Mason’s number two guy,” Thrall Coach Brenda Graham said. “He lost the first set, but then settled in a little bit and staring playing a little better. He cramped up right after the third set started, but was able to get back out there.”
In the championship match, Gillmore faced Mason’s Mason Hatfield, the reigning Class 2A singles champion. Despite a valiant effort, Gillmore fell 6-0, 6-1, but will still compete in the state tournament beginning May 16. His state quarterfinal match will begin at 8 a.m. at the Blossom Tennis Center in San Antonio.
“Payton played well and got the only game off of Hatfield in this tournament,” Graham said. “We are extremely proud of Payton. He found hard in every set and didn’t give in even when he was hot, thirsty and cramping.”
Julie Crabb and Elena Garcia will travel to the state tournament as alternates in girls doubles after finishing third. Crabb and Garcia topped teams from Shiner and Sabinal to reach the semifinals where they faced Mason’s number two doubles team. The Thrall pair gave Emma McCrae and Heidi Smith a solid match before falling 6-4, 6-2.
Crabb and Garcia then faced off against Landry Zapalac and Reagan Dusek from Schulenburg in the third-place match. The Thrall duo disposed of their opponents 6-3, 6-2 to claim third place and the alternate spot at the state tournament next week.
“Julie and Elena played well,” Graham said. “They fought hard against Mason in the semis and came up a little short. They did get more games off of the Mason team than anyone in the tournament.”
Other Thrall representatives put in solid showings. Ethan Dahl and Brady Branson reached the quarterfinals in boys doubles and Lily O’Neill, the District 27-2A girls singles champion, also advanced to the quarterfinals.
Kinley Hoffman, Avery Ochoa and Teegan Schnelting drew the top seeds in girls doubles and boys singles respectively, and bowed out of the tournament early, despite solid performances. And, Greyson Moehnke and Kayla Pouncey fell to the number four seed in the opening round of the mixed doubles division.
“We are proud of all the kids and how they played at the regional tournament,” Graham said. “We look for good things in the future.”
