Moran Captures Regional Singles

Prep tennis

Mead senior Ryan Moran rallied to capture the boys singles title at the Region IV-4A tournament Saturday at Central Valley.

Moran defeated Kamiakin’s Kyle Steiling 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 in the final. Moran entered as Greater Spokane League No. 1 seed, Steiling as Big Nine Conference No. 1.

Moran will be among the favorites at next weekend’s State 4A tourney at the Vancouver Tennis Center. Moran was rolling along at state last year when he was forced to withdraw because of an injured ankle.

Ferris’ Megan McKitterick was the other GSL athlete to play for a championship. Kamiakin’s Katherine Martin defeated McKitterick 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a matchup of top seeds.

The top four in each event qualified for state. The Big Nine claimed 12 of the 16 spots, topped by Kamiakin’s four.

Also advancing to state from the GSL are Aaryn Volkmann, Central Valley, in girls singles, and brothers Karl and Peter Johnson, Lewis and Clark, boys doubles.

Region IV-3A

The Mid-Valley dominated the event at the Yakima Tennis Club, earning seven of the eight berths available to next weekend’s State 3A tourney at Tacoma.

The exception was East Valley’s Sharon Wentz, who defeated teammate Daphne Willmschen 6-0, 6-3 in the girls consolation singles final.

Champions were: Tyler Kempton, West Valley (Yakima), boys singles; Dione Rasmussen, Hanford, girls singles; Will Gannon and Mike Plesha, Sunnyside, boys doubles; and Jill Huibregtse and Sarah Therrien, WV-Yakima, girls doubles.

District 7-3A boys singles champion Keli Heidenson of West Valley won a playback match but didn’t play a consolation final because he had already lost to the remaining player, WV-Yakima’s Andrew Kerr.

District 7-2A

Pullman athletes won three championships and topped the team races at Washington State University.

Top-seeded Jordan Oaks of Pullman defeated No. 2 Jeff Racicot of Medical Lake 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4 for the boys singles title. Unseeded Spencer Shively and Zac Franz of Pullman defeated No. 1 Tim Zeitler and Aaron Parlin in the semifinals, then topped unseeded teammates Derrick and Stephen Mueller 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the title match.

Pullman scored 24 points to win the team title. The Greyhounds’ champions advance to next weekend’s State 2A tourney at Yakima.

Riverside and Pullman tied for the girls title with 18 points apiece.

Top-seeded Bernice Stime of Riverside defeated No. 3 Katy Huberty of Pullman 6-0, 6-0 for the girls singles title.

Second-seeded Casie Schneider and Brook Hurlbert of Pullman defeated unseeded Val Jorgensen and Aleshia Oglesbee 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 for the girls doubles title.

All girls title-match participants advance to state.

District 7/9-1A/B

Freeman dominated the boys event and tied St. George’s for the girls title at North Park Racquet and Athletic Club.

Freeman’s Jesse Lamon won the boys singles title, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 over Lind’s Josh Parkins. An all-Freeman boys doubles final saw the Scotties’ No. 2 team, Dan Irish and Andy Duncan, beat their No. 1, P.K. Lipp and Eric Fulkerson, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Freeman scored 61 points to the 13 of runner-up Ritzville.

Freeman and St. George’s tied for the girls title with 22 points, three more than Davenport.

Davenport’s Christine Dickson, second at state last year, topped Heidi Kinch of LaCrosse-Washtucna 6-0, 6-0 for the singles title.

Rhionon Lockwood and Katie DePonty, the No. 2 St. George’s team, defeated sisters Nikki and Heidi Zuber of Freeman 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) for the doubles title.

All champions advance to next weekend’s State 1A/B tourney at Yakima.