The host Cavaliers captured the championship at Friday’s Thomas Jefferson Invitational girls tennis tournament.
Thomas Jefferson compiled 20.5 points, while North Kansas City had 20. Branson finished third with 18.5.
The Cavaliers advanced to the title match in all four brackets, winning the No. 1 doubles bracket and finishing as the runner-up in No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.
It was the second straight year the hosts won their own invite after Joplin won the tourney in 2021.
NO. 1 SINGLES
In the championship match at No. 1 singles, North KC’s Sydney Fuger defeated Thomas Jefferson’s Allison Ding 8-0.
Ding defeated Neosho’s Emma VanDorn 8-0 and Carthage’s Kailie Laytham 8-1 en route to the title match.
In the third-place match, Branson’s Sylvie Barbour beat Carthage’s Laytham 8-1.
Aurora’s Kloey Boyd defeated College Heights’ Ella Bishop 8-6 in the consolation final.
Webb City’s Ally Ansley and Neosho’s Emma VanDorn went 0-2.
NO. 2 SINGLES
North Kansas City’s Angel Denopol topped TJ’s Jeanna Jeyaraj 8-1 in the title match at No. 2 singles.
Jeyaraj defeated Aurora’s Libby Sawyers 8-0 and CHC’s Lily Cummins 8-1 to reach the title match.
In the bracket’s third-place match, Branson’s Nanami Makino beat Cummins 8-2.
Webb City’s Ayla McDonald defeated Sawyers 8-4 in the consolation bracket final.
Neosho’s Lauren Nageotte went 0-2.
NO. 1 DOUBLES
Thomas Jefferson’s duo of Esther Yang and Kyla Yang won the No. 1 doubles bracket, beating Branson’s Olivia Bunce-Ivoree Marler 8-4 in the title match.
The Cavaliers defeated Webb City’s Addy Ragsdale-Bethany Brumit 8-1 and North KC’s Adele Merchant-Lilly Gerend 8-3 to reach the title match.
North KC’s duo defeated CHC’s Jeanna Smathers-Cloee Shackelford 8-4 in the third-place match.
Aurora’s McKenna Bradley-Adeline Patillo defeated Neosho’s Francisca Ruiz-Angel Lee 8-5 for fifth place (consolation) honors.
Carthage’s Logan Lee and Rachel Martin went 0-2.
NO. 2 DOUBLES
In the championship match of the No. 2 doubles bracket, Branson’s Abi Jones-Mia Kasabov defeated Thomas Jefferson’s Warda Morsy-Mayson Solum 8-5.
The Cavaliers beat CHC’s Londyn Eidson-Anna Heltzel 8-1 and Carthage’s Maddie Goetzinger-Emma Seedorf 8-0 in the first round and semifinals.
North KC’s Grace Hankins-Bella Jones beat Goetzinger-Seedorf 8-1 in the third-place match.
Webb City’s Averey Terry-Jaden Dailey topped CHC’s Eidson-Heltzel 8-3 for fifth place.
Neosho’s Sydnee Minton-Abigail Coutu went 0-2.
2023 Thomas Jefferson Girls Tennis Invitational
Final team standings: Thomas Jefferson 20.5, North KC 20, Branson 18.5, College Heights Christian 6, Carthage 4.5, Aurora 3.5, Webb City 3.5, Neosho 1.
