Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez took eight players to one last tournament Saturday before the district tournament next Wednesday and Thursday. The Wildcats participated in a Stephen F. Austin tournament in Nacogdoches. Coach Martinez called it a great tournament. It included a chance for the high school players to watch a match between the SFA women’s team and Northwest Illinois.
Coach Martinez said his team did well during the tournament. He was pleased with the play of two JV players he bumped up to the varsity for the tournament: Jordan Gonzales and Aaron Lucas. Coach Martinez said his team got to compete with teams from southern east Texas down near Houston that the players may not have seen before or may not had even heard of. Coach Martinez was especially pleased with his boys #2 doubles team, Alex Benitez and Jonah Kirkpatrick, that won first place in boys A division consolation. They opened the tournament with a loss to a strong John Tyler duo that won the tournament. Tyler Stout, normally a doubles player, ended up in singles play since his usual partner Blaine Flemens was at an Ag contest in Houston. Stout won the boys B division singles. Coach Martinez said it was a good way to get ready for district play by winning some matches.
Sulphur Springs will host the district JV tournament next Tuesday. The district varsity tournament is at Texas High in Texarkana next Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Martinez was pleased with the results of a seeding meeting for the district tournament held Tuesday. Wildcats #1 boys singles player Jesse Allen got a #4 seed as did the boys doubles team of Blaine Flemens and Tyler Stout.