Great net season continues for SHS
Daily Globe Sports Editor
A great tennis season became even greater for Shelby
The champions of the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference qualified five players — one in singles and two doubles teams — for the Division II District tournament scheduled for Thursday and Saturday at Port Clinton High School.
The Division II Sectional, which was held on the Lady Whippet courts, wrapped up Saturday with the red and gray doubles squads finishing one-two while Sadie Smith was third in singles.
SHS coach Jeff Kurtzman, who chalked up the 500th win of his career earlier in the season, said the performance by his squad didn’t catch him by surprise.
“Going in I had high hopes. I felt we had a chance to get five out and we did,” said Kurtzman. “We had a great season and played well. The girls continued to play well in the sectional.”
The doubles championship was an all Shelby final with Grace Mahek and Anna Vogt paired up against teammates Raegan Gurney and Madison Sharrock
Although they were unseeded, the Gurneysharrock duo stunned the No. 2 seed from Willard in the semifinals by a 6-3, 6-2 score. During play Thursday they ousted the No. 3 seed from Lexington.
“Madison and Raegan stepped forward. I believed they could knock off the three seed and then to knock off the No. 2 seed was a great accomplishment,” said Kurtzman.
In the finals, the No. 1 seeded tandem of Mahek and Vogt held off Gurney and Sharrock 6-4, 6-4. Mahek and Vogt beat Edison’s Keyser and Vogus in the semifinals 6-2, 6-4.
Kurtzman could remember just one other time when there was an all-shelby final in doubles. That was several years ago on the boys team.
Smith, who was seeded No. 3 in singles, wound up third after besting Ontario’s Claire Henige 6-0, 6-1. The
SHS netter fell in the semifinals to Edison’s Jayla Medina 6-0, 6-2.
Top-seeded Gracie Pfeiffer of Lexington rolled to the singles championship by bouncing Medina 6-0, 6-1.
In the third-place doubles match, Edison downed Willard 6-2, 6-2. Competition Thursday at Port Clinton High School is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. with singles play and the doubles matches will follow.