Melville continues to regionals ranked first

With a slight change in playoffs this year, the LRS tennis team competed in the District Tournament to have multiple athletes move onto regionals. The Seconds Tournament has been eliminated, moving all of the number two and three singles competitions into the district competition as well.

The LRS Broncos girls team won the district competition, led by undefeated singles athlete Tracy Melville.

The District Tournament began on Saturday with a full day of competition for the Broncos. Melville maintained an undefeated season by winning her matches against Wilbur’s No. 1, and against Manisha Singha from St. George’s.

The win moved her into the finals on Tuesday against Lura Potter, who she defeated 6-0, 6-2. Melville moves onto the Regional Tournament ranked as the number one singles player in the district.

In the No. 1 boys doubles competition, Kyle Canaday and Alex Wheeler won their first match easily against Reardan, before defeating St. George’s in a tough three-set match: 6-7, 6-2, and 6-1. The duo then matched up against St. George’s No. 1 team on Tuesday and lost in the finals 2-6, 7-5, 5-7. The team still continues onto regionals for the Broncos.

Head coach Liz Melville said the No. 1 girls’ doubles team had the toughest road during districts. The duo of Elizabeth Schofstoll and Kymberlee Webb lost their first match to Reardan’s No. 1, 7-5, 6-7, 5-7. They battled back, winning their second match, and then lost to Wilbur-Creston’s No. 1 team, knocking them out of the district tournament.

The doubles team had an opportunity to become an alternate for regionals, and found themselves faced against teammates Emily Boutain and Soraida Chavez of the Broncos No. 2 doubles team. Boutain and Chavez had played Odessa-Harrington’s No. 1 in the first round and were defeated.

They then beat Wilbur-Creston’s No. 2 team before winning against Reardan’s No. 2 team. The girls played Reardan’s No. 1 team on Tuesday and lost, before finding themselves matched against Webb and Schofstoll.

The No. 2 doubles team eventually earned the win and now continues on as the Broncos representatives for the girls’ doubles teams as an alternate.

Travis Ste. Marie beat St. George’s Jacob Martin and won, before losing to Davenport’s No. 2 athlete on Saturday.

He then faced team member Justin Templin in a loser-out game and won. He won his match against Wilbur to earn a position as an alternate.

Templin had won his first match on Saturday before losing to Reardan. He was knocked out of the tournament following his loss to Ste. Marie.

The Broncos No. 2 boys doubles team of Josh Yow and Zeth Swanger won their first district match against LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus, before losing to St. George’s No. 1 team. The dup defeated the No. 2 LWK team, but suffered a loss to Davenport, eliminating their opportunity to compete at regionals.

Carissa Peavey won her first match in the No. 2 competition, before losing the second match. She played in a loser-out competition on Tuesday.

Angela Howes competed as the Broncos’ No. 3 singles athlete and lost all her matches on Saturday, knocking her out of the district competition.