For the first time in program history, the Thomas Jefferson Independent School girls tennis team is headed to the Final Four.
Thomas Jefferson earned a convincing 5-0 victory over Platte County on Monday afternoon in a quarterfinal contest of the Class 2 state tournament.
The win advances the Cavaliers to the semifinals on Oct. 20 in Springfield.
“One of our goals was to get to the Final Four and then see what happens once we’re there,” Thomas Jefferson coach Tom Brumfield said. “So, this is awesome. I’m excited and I’m just proud of the girls. When we got moved up to Class 2 we didn’t know what we were getting into. I felt like we had a good team, but it was new territory for us once we got into the district tournament. And we had a tough district. You don’t have this kind of an opportunity too often. It tickles me that all of the girls are going to get to have the state finals experience.”
It was the second straight historic win for the program, as Thomas Jefferson secured its first-ever Class 2 district championship last week.
Now, a berth in the state semifinals awaits.
“I’m really excited,” Thomas Jefferson senior Allison Ding said. “My internals are about to implode. That’s how I’d describe how I’m feeling right now. We’ve gotten close several times before, and this year, we finally did it. I knew we had a good team, so I knew it was possible. I was really hoping we’d make it this year. I envisioned it in my brain so many times, so now that it’s here, it’s unreal.”
With Monday’s victory, the Cavaliers are guaranteed of bringing home a state trophy.
“That’s a big deal, especially in Class 2,” Brumfield said. “It’s our first time making it to the semifinals for the girls program, and we did it in Class 2, so that’s a nice bonus.”
Playing on their home courts on a sunny afternoon, the Cavaliers started off the dual on a positive note by winning all three doubles matches.
At No. 1 doubles, TJ’s Ding and Jeanna Jeyaraj edged Addison Mayne-Olivia Holbrook 9-7.
The TJ duo of Esther Yang and Kyla Yang defeated Maggie McBratney-Lily Fish 8-0 at No. 2 doubles, while Thomas Jefferson’s Warda Morsy and Mayson Solum topped Delaney Bachmann-Lucy McClain 8-3.
Brumfield noted it’s always crucial to have the advantage after doubles play.
“Doubles went great,” Brumfield said. “Our No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams have been really strong for us all season. Our No. 1 doubles team has struggled a little bit at times this season. But we know we have two good players at No. 1 doubles. They put it together last week and they put it together today. They stepped up when it mattered most.”
The first to five wins dual match ended when the Cavaliers earned two singles victories.
In completed singles matches, Thomas Jefferson’s Solum defeated Bachmann 6-0, 6-2, and Kyla Yang beat McClain 6-1, 6-0.
Also of note, Ding was leading Mayne 6-0, 4-1, and Morsy was beating Fish 6-1, 5-0 when the match was halted.
The Cavaliers are now 14-0 in dual matches this fall.
Brumfield noted his student-athletes put in a lot of extra work over the summer in preparation for the season.
Now, that hard work has paid off.
“All of them have been playing a lot of tennis together, and all that extra work pays off,” Brumfield said. “They all have good attitudes. We’ve talked about the mental aspects of the game all season…dealing with pressure and things like that. But the effort and the time they’ve put in has been a big key to success…no doubt.”
The undefeated Cavaliers will meet Grain Valley (23-2) in the semifinals at 9 a.m. on Oct. 20 at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Grain Valley defeated Springfield Catholic 5-1.
“We just have to go out and play and not worry about who we’re playing,” Brumfield said. “I want them to play hard, play their best and enjoy the moment.”
DING FINISHING CAREER AT STATE
A senior standout, Ding will compete at the individual state singles tournament on Thursday in Springfield.
“I just want to go out there, have fun and play good tennis,” said Ding, a returning state medalist who finished eighth in singles as a junior and seventh as a sophomore.
Following the individual state tourney, Ding will conclude her prep tennis career alongside her teammates at the team state tournament.
“All of us are tight knit, we hang out a lot,” Ding said of the Cavaliers. “And we play tennis all the time. We’re just really connected. We’re like a close family. And at state, we’re all going to do our best.”
