INDEPENDENCE — Securing two entries to the state tournament in a loaded regional, the Chanute Blue Comets placed fourth at the KSHSAA 4A Girls Tennis Regional Tournament in Independence over the weekend.
Independence won the regional title on their home court, registering 14 points. Winfield was runner-up with 13 points, followed by Wellington (9), Chanute (7), Fort Scott (5), Parsons (4), Labette County (2), Coffeyville (0) and Iola (0). The top four teams are all ranked in the top six of Class 4A.
“Our effort was tremendous,” Chanute head coach Jeff Smith said. “We were the only team to bring everybody to Day 2 and that was a good feeling. The girls that didn’t qualify lost really close matches. We were in it right until the end. And the effort was outstanding.”
Ella Guernsey secured third place in the singles division for Chanute. She defeated Coffeyville’s River Sanchez, 6-0, 6-0, and Lucy Pearson of Labette County, 6-1, 6-0, before losing to Zlata Mitina of Winfield, 6-0, 6-2, in the semifinals.
Guernsey then defeated Parsons’ Kadence Ball, 6-0, 6-0, in the third-place match.
“I’ll tell you what, Ella is a special player,” Smith said. “She’s a multi-sport athlete who’s always down to compete. She’s such a competitor. We expected that match against Parsons to be tough and really long. But that was the best I’ve seen Ella play all year. It was great to see. Hopefully she continues that next week.”
J.J. Smoot and Leah Burnett secured the other state bid for Chanute in doubles, placing sixth.
The top Chanute duo took down Parsons’ Laila Haviland and Maleia Ludwig, 6-3, 6-3 before falling to Abbie Gormand and Bryleigh Hymer of Fort Scott, 6-4, 6-2.
Smoot and Burnett earned their ticket to state by beating Tenlee Kennett and Heidi Shultz of Parsons, 6-4, 6-2, before losing to Wellington’s Addi Thompson and Gracie Thompson, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
“They got the job done and I’m super proud of them,” Smith said. “They lost a tough match for fifth place. We had faith in J.J. and Leah. Leah has qualified for state every year. I was confident they’d find a way and they did.”
Winfield’s Sophia Heger defeated Mitina in the singles championship in three sets, while Brooklyn mattix and Morgan McLenon of Independence beat Wellington’s Cruz Cornejo and Logan Robinson in the doubles title match via medical default.
Up next
Guernsey, Smoot and Burnett head to the KSHSAA 4A Girls Tennis Championships at Harmon Park in Prairie Village near Kansas City.
Guernsey will likely earn a top-12 seed and be in line for a medal.
“I’ve looked around a little bit and from what I’ve seen, I think she’ll be there in the seven-toeight seed area. It’ll depend on where the Winfield girls fall,” Smith said. “I think she’ll be in a good spot. She’s a tough out for whoever draws her.”
Smoot and Burnett will earn a lower seed but have all the makings of a trap for whoever they face.
“They’re in a fun position,” Smith said. “The odds of us as the sixth place finisher in the region getting a top seed are really tough. So we’ll probably be towards the end. And it’ll be a brutal matchup for whoever draws us. We’ve got an opportunity to make some noise out of the 20-or-below spot.”
