Van earns state team tennis berth

Published 11:50 pm Monday, March 4, 2013

By ETFinalScore.com

Van seniors who helped the Vandals earn a state berth include (from left) Amanda Wilgus, Addison Faglie, Jon Cauthron, Patrick Ward and Monica Martin. Courtesy

VAN — The Van Vandals placed third in the Texas Tennis Coaches Association Regional Team Tournament to earn a berth in the state team tennis tournament, coach Brad Crawford said.

It is the first state berth in three years for the Van team. The state tourney is Friday and Saturday in Abilene. The Vandals had a record of 3-1 at regionals.

The Vandals opened the regional, which was held in Forney, with an 18-1 over Rains on Thursday. They then took a see-saw quarterfinals match with Wills Point, 11-8.

Van took two of three boys doubles matches — No. 1, Jon Cauthron-Addison Faglie and No. 3, Trent Herrington/Landon Howell. Van captured the No. 2 doubles victory — Monica Martin and Amanda Wilgus.

Van won mixed doubles (Lindsey Stroud and Nick Clark) and claimed a 4-3 lead heading into singles. The squads split in boys singles with Cauthron, Faglie and Herrington winning. In girls singles, the Tigers won the top two flights, but Van rallied to win the next four — Martin, Stroud, Wilgus, and Kenna Rainwater — to register the win.



In the semifinals, Van fell short of Kaufman, 10-8. With three teams earning state bids, Van had to win the third-place match against Spring Hill to advance.

“We knew Spring Hill would be tough,” Crawford said.

“We knew we would have to play our best tennis, if we were going to be able to come away with a victory.”

The Vandals won 10-8 to achieve the state berth. Sophomore Mullika Seekhio got the ninth win, while senior Wilgus got the decisive 10th victory.

“It’s been a long dry spell,” Crawford.

“But I’m just so proud of this team. They have worked so hard, and they played really tough under some pretty unpleasant conditions with the cold and the wind.They earned this honor, and they deserve it.”

Girls varsity team members are: Mullika Seekhio, Taylor Attaway, Monica Martin, Lindsey Stroud, Amanda Wilgus, Kenna Rainwater, Mariah Maxfield and Courtney Pickett.

Boys varsity team members are: Jon Cauthron, Addison Faglie, Patrick Ward, Zach Moree, Nick Clark, Trent Herrington, Landon Howell and Jared Herrington.