MMS Girls Tennis Claims Share of Invitational Title
Bullpups tie for first at home tournament with perfect weather and standout performances across lineup
The McPherson Middle School girls tennis team showcased their depth and determination Monday, earning a share of first place at their own invitational tournament under ideal playing conditions.
Competing on a day with cool temperatures and cloud cover that coach Henry Weiner described as "almost perfect for tennis," the Bullpups tied Valley Center with 27 points apiece to claim the team championship at the McPherson Invitational.
"Across the board, it was fantastic to see every player on the McPherson team place in the top two," Weiner said of his squad's comprehensive performance.
The tournament field included Wichita Classical School (16 points, third place), Prairie Hills (5 points, fourth), and a mixed group of independent players (5 points, fifth).
Leading the way for McPherson was Gwen Prieb, who dominated the No. 1 singles division with a perfect 3-0 record, winning each match convincingly according to her coach.
"Gwen Prieb played strong tennis all day, winning each match convincingly," Weiner noted.
Equally impressive was Hattie Krug's performance in No. 2 singles, where she went undefeated at 4-0 while showing remarkable resilience in the championship-deciding match.
"Hattie Krug showed incredible toughness coming back from a deficit to beat Wichita Classical in the match that ended up deciding #2 Singles," Weiner said.
The singles success continued with Anna Kahle (3-1, second in No. 3 singles) and Aly Rausch (3-1, second in No. 4 singles) both earning runner-up finishes.
In doubles competition, the Bullpups demonstrated both depth and fighting spirit. The No. 2 doubles team of Farah Britting and Brielle Rothrock provided one of the tournament's most thrilling matches.
"Farah Britting and Brielle Rothrock played a strong Valley Center team extremely close, coming from behind to force a tiebreak," Weiner said of their second-place finish.
The highlight in doubles came from the No. 4 team of Amanda Lauw and Lauren Southern, who captured first place with a perfect 4-0 record.
"Amanda Lauw and Lauren Southern played strong tennis all day, moving around on the court and hitting to the open court to emerge as the winners of #4 doubles," the coach explained.
Additional second-place finishes came from the No. 1 doubles team of Charley Duerksen and Addie Schneider (3-1), and the No. 3 doubles pairing of Audrey Pflughoeft and Sloan Shober (3-1).
"It was great to see some extra players for McPherson filling in and even taking home a medal in the #4 doubles division," he said.
"This tournament gave us an excellent opportunity to see a strong Valley Center team in a tournament format, and our girls rose to the challenge," Weiner said.
With the regular season winding down, Weiner is optimistic about his team's trajectory heading into the league tournament.
COMPLETE TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Team Standings:
- McPherson: 27 points
- Valley Center: 27 points
- Wichita Classical School: 16 points
- Prairie Hills: 5 points
- Independent Players: 5 points
Individual Results:
- #1 Singles: Gwen Prieb, 3-0, 1st
- #2 Singles: Hattie Krug, 4-0, 1st
- #3 Singles: Anna Kahle, 3-1, 2nd; Niah Janes, 0-4, 5th
- #4 Singles: Aly Rausch, 3-1, 2nd; Addison Hoffer, 0-4, 5th
- #1 Doubles: Charley Duerksen/Addie Schneider, 3-1, 2nd
- #2 Doubles: Brielle Rothrock/Farah Britting, 3-1, 2nd; Brynnlee Torsell/Lyla Rageth, 1-3, 4th
- #3 Doubles: Audrey Pflughoeft/Sloan Shober, 3-1, 2nd; Elsie Walters/Karsen Greer, 1-3, 4th
- #4 Doubles: Amanda Lauw/Lauren Southern, 4-0, 1st; Madison Pollman/Mabel Jones, 2-2, 3rd
Greg Loving
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