Melodie Phelps, News Editor
CNHI
6-23-10 — It was the first time they had ever sent a singles and a
doubles team to the state tournament. The state tournament
appearances capped off a successful season for the program.
The girls ended the season with a 12-3 record, while the boys
finished the season with an 11-4 record.
"We' ve had a very good season,"noted Pam Neal, who along with her
husband Donnie, coaches the tennis team. Hinkey Eads is a volunteer
coach with the program. "We had 32 kids on the team this year which
is the most we have ever had."
Neal noted that many of the team members came to tennis after
finishing out the season in another sport. And many of those players
though that tennis was an easy sport. They quickly learned that it
was not.
"It is a high-energy sport," said Neal. "It's an active sport and it
is great exercise."
Wayne County Tennis fared well in the regional competition which was held in May. The doubles team of Matthew Neal and Austin Kirksey made it to the semifinals at the region, which marks the first time that
Wayne County has had a boys team go that far.
As a team, the girls squad tied for second place with Boyle County
in overall team scores.
Casi Clark finished second in the region in singles competition and
advanced to the state tournament May 27 at the University of
Kentucky. Clark won her first round at the state tournament, but had
to retire in the second set of her second match due to a knee injury.
Clark, who has been playing tennis since she was an eighth grader,
is getting quite a bit of attention for colleges who would like her
to continue her career.
The doubles team of Emily Eicher and Jennifer Worley also advanced
to the state tournament. They lost their first match, but were
playing against the number two doubles team in the state from Manuel
High School in Louisville, who ended up winning the title.
Neal is proud of the accomplishments the team has made on the court,
but she has a lot to be proud of off the court as well. She noted
that coaches have received many compliments this season about the
Wayne County team and how well they have conducted themselves.
"We are really proud of the kids," said Neal. "Everywhere we went
the children received many compliments on the manners on and off the
court."