TOPEKA — On the biggest stage in Class 5A tennis — the state tournament — it was a tough day against stiff competition for Great Bend High School’s youthful tennis team on Friday at Kossover Tennis Center.
Only Lady Panthers freshman standout Macy Moyers advanced to Saturday’s second round, but it was suspended until today because of inclement weather.
The Lady Panthers doubles team — juniors Jami McVay and Brianna Schartz — coming off a qualifying second-place finish in regional competition, drew a first-round bye before they were eliminated after losing back-to-back matches. It was their second straight state appearance.
“They can play with any team here,” GBHS head coach Shannon Schartz said of his doubles team. “We just need to be more consistent and have more power. I think we’re capable of winning it (next season).”
In their elimination match, McVay and Brianna Schartz lost to Arkansas City’s Courtney Saia and Janelle Headrick, 9-7. They were the second of two doubles teams it entered.
“We had control of the match,” Shannon Schartz said. “We had a 7-4 lead and we had the match under control and we let it get away.
“The first Ark City team that we lost to (Makenna Gonzalez and Ally Burr), is one of the top teams in the state and we played well against them. Every game, we had our chances.”
Sophomore Morgan Francis, the Lady Panthers’ No. 1 singles player all season, also drew a bye before getting eliminated after winning one more match.
“She played real well,” Shannon Schartz said of Francis, a sophomore. “Everybody our team played well. Playing here against the best players in the state, they’re only going to get better.
“It will be exciting next season to watch everyone come back and play. Morgan made it as a freshman last year, and Macy made it as a freshman this year.”

                                                                                                   — Mack McClure

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Class 5A State
Tournament

Friday

At Topeka
Kossover Tennis Court

SINGLES
Macy Moyers — Won 6-3, 6-1 over Katie Siemsen, Salina South; lost to Allie Schulte, Kapaun, 6-1, 6-1; def. Marcy Cuestos, Maize South, 9-5; def. Serena Wong, Newton, 9-2.
Morgan Francis — First-round bye; lost to Heidi Klassen, Arkansas City, 6-1, 6-2; def. Hannah Smith, St. James Academy-Lenexa, 9-5; lost to Maddie Oxler, Bishop Carroll, 9-7.

DOUBLES
Brianna Schartz/Jami McVay — First-round bye; lost to Makenna Gonzalez/Ally Burr, Ark City, 6-2, 6-2; def. Kelsey Kerwin/Melissa Capan, Blue Valley Southwest,  9-3; lost to Courtney Saia/Janelle Headrick, Ark City, 9-7.