DODGE CITY — The Ellinwood girls’ tennis team took first place at the Class 3-1A state meet on Saturday.
It was the first time that the Lady Eagles had claimed first at the state level.
In fact, it was the first time since 1967 that an Ellinwood team finished first in the state in any sport, according to Ellinwood head coach Lyle Stickney.
“It was the first time that any team had gotten first in any sport since ’67,” Stickney said. “The cross country team took first in ’66 and ’67. It has been a long drought.”
The Lady Eagles totalled 30.5 points to beat Conway Springs, which finished in second with 29.
The doubles duo Bailey Schartz and Darri Beckwith was the top finisher for Ellinwood, taking second place after losing to a Conway Springs doubles group 7-5, 6-2.
“Once we lost that first set, we lost our edge,” Stickney said. “We just couldn’t get it going again. They knew they had wasted an opportinuty in the first set.”  
Gentry McLeland and Kaitlyn Robl finished in ninth place in the doubles competition.
Oma Thomas took seventh at the state meet in singles competition, and Rachel Morales went 1-1 on Friday to earn Ellinwood a 1/2 point in the final standings.

Central Plains doubles duo takes third at state meet
The combination of Katie Hipp and Janae Hekele resulted in a third-place finish in doubles competition at the 3-1A state meet on Saturday.
The pair beat a group from Wichita Independent, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, to claim third.
Brianna Schartz competed in the singles competition for Central Plains. She fell to Sabetha, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round, but recovered to beat a Russell singles player, 9-5, to claim 1/2 point.
Central Plains finished in eighth place as a team with 14.5 points.

CLASS 3-1A STATE TENNIS
At Dodge City
Friday-Saturday
Top 10 team standings
1. Ellinwood, 30.5; 2. Conway Springs, 29; 3. Wichita Independent, 28; 4. Prairie Village-KC Christian, 23.5; 5. Marysville, 17; 6. Sabetha, 16.5; 7. Norton Community, 16; 8. Central Plains, 14.5; 9. Shawnee Marantha Academy, 11; 9. Wakeeney, 11.
Ellinwood results
Singles
7. Oma Thomas — lost to Conway Springs, 4-6, 6-3,(10-5); def. Independent, 9-2; def. Ashland, 9-4; lost to Sabetha, 9-2; def. Conway Springs, 9-6.
Rachel Morales — lost to SMA, 6-2, 6-0; def. Phillipsburg, 9-5.
Doubles
2. Schartz & Beckwith — def. Independent, 6-0, 6-2; def. Hillsboro, 6-3, 6-2; def. Independent, 6-2, 6-2; lost to Conway Springs, 7-5, 6-2.
9. McLeland & Robl — def. Scott City, 6-4, 6-1; def. Prairie Village, 6-1, 7-6(7-4); lost to Conway Springs 6-0, 6-0; lost to A C, 9-8(7-3); def. Tri, 9-8(12-10); def. Prairie Village, 9-6.
Central Plains results
Singles
Brianna Schartz — lost to Sabetha, 6-2, 6-2; def. Russell, 9-5.
Doubles
3. Hipp & Hekele —  def. Neosho, 6-2, 6-2; def. Wakeeney, 6-1, 7-5; lost to Conway Springs, 6-2, 6-2; def. Independent, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.