Olentangy Liberty pair wins doubles title again

with their second consecutive state championship, never losing a set in defending their title.

“The girls played super well,” Patriots coach Will Thieman said. “I was very, very happy for them and proud of the way they played.”

Atway and Schoenly beat Mason’s Raina Chada and Annie Kruse 6-0, 6-2 in a semifinal and Mayfield’s Hannah Kassaie and Caitlyn Hsu 6-2, 6-3 for the championship.

“It’s so nice going back-to-back,” Schoenly said.

During the regular season, Atway usually played first singles and Schoenly second singles for the Patriots.

Columbus Academy sophomore Sydni Ratliff also had the same final result as a year ago, finishing as Division II state runner-up in singles for the second consecutive season.

She did, however, close the gap on Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown junior Nicole Gillinov, who beat Ratliff 6-2, 6-4 in last year’s championship match but struggled to defeat her 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in this year’s final.

Ratliff beat Chesterland West Geauga’s Rylie Hanford 6-3, 6-0 in a semifinal to set up the rematch.

“There were a lot of questionable calls and it was really windy, but I know that I played really well and that’s what I can take from it,” Ratliff said. “I was really happy with the way I played on Friday and on Saturday. It was a good accomplishment just to make it to the final in general. Obviously I wanted to win, but that’s OK, because I can always go back next year.”