Three Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers and two Webb City Cardinals advanced to the individual state tennis tournament with their respective performances at the Class 2 District 7 singles and doubles tournament on Saturday at Belton High School.
At the individual district tournament, the top two singles players and the top two doubles teams advance to state.
Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding was the singles champion. In the championship match, Ding defeated Belton’s Nathan Irvin 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles, Thomas Jefferson’s Noah Hamlett and Tyler Brouhard and Webb City’s Trenton Hayes and Cale Stephens both advanced.
The Cavaliers defeated the Cardinals 6-1, 6-1 in the championship match.
SINGLES BRACKET
Ding, Neosho’s Christian Williams, Irvin, Carl Junction’s Connor Sztamenits and Thomas Jefferson’s Christopher Wheelen all had first round byes.
In opening round matches, Webb City’s Drake Miller defeated Belton’s Jacob Dolphin, Grandview’s Ben Ogutu beat Neosho’s Melvin Lopez and Webb City’s Jackson Dill defeated Carl Junction’s Easton Sztamenits.
In the quarterfinals, Ding defeated Miller, Williams topped Sztamenits, Irvin beat Ogutu and Wheelen defeated Dill.
In the key semifinals, which decided state berths, TJ’s Ding defeated Neosho’s Williams 6-0, 6-0 and Irvin edged Wheelen 6-5, 6-4.
Wheelen won the third-place match over Williams, 8-0.
Again, Ding beat Irvin in the title match.
DOUBLES BRACKET
Hamlett-Brouhard, Carl Junction’s Blaine and Cade Wilkerson, Thomas Jefferson’s Hari and Prithvi Nagarajan and Webb City’s Hayes-Stephens all had byes in the first round.
In opening round contests, Neosho’s Fajtim Lee and Wesley McKay defeated Belton’s Carson Dent-Omar Martinez, Webb City’s Caiden Johnson-Tyler Wade beat Grandview’s Caleb Sealy-Anthony Pham, Belton’s Xavier Diamond-Caden Petzold topped Neosho’s Caden Kelly-Kevin Paige and Carl Junction’s Jordan Markham-Josecito Quezada Figueroa beat Grandview’s Daniel Gardner-Angel Rodriguez.
In the quarterfinals, TJ’s Hamlett-Brouhard beat Neosho’s Lee-McKay, Webb City’s Johnson-Wade topped CJ’s Wilkerson-Wilkerson, TJ’s Nagarajan-Nagarajan defeated Belton’s Diamond-Petzold and Webb City’s Hayes-Stephens beat Carl Junction’s Markham-Figueroa.
In the semifinals, Hamlett-Brouhard beat Webb City’s Johnson-Wade 6-1, 6-1, while Webb City’s Hayes-Stephens defeated TJ’s Nagarajan-Nagarajan 7-5, 6-3.
For third, TJ’s Nagarajan-Nagarajan edged Webb City’s Johnson-Wade 9-8 (7-4).
Again, Hamlett-Brouhard defeated Hayes-Stephens in the title match.
NOTES: The individual state tennis tournament will be held May 20-22 in Springfield.
The Class 2 District 7 team tournament begins on May 10, as fourth-seeded Belton takes on fifth-seeded Neosho.
In May 11 contests, No. 1 Thomas Jefferson plays either Belton or Neosho, while No. 2 Webb City squares off against No. 3 Carl Junction.
The team district championship match is scheduled for May 12.
