Area teams prepare for state tennis tournament
Three local tennis teams have qualified for the postseason and learned their first-round draw with the release of the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 16-team state tournament brackets Wednesday.
Cibola was the only local boys team to make it, and is the No. 8 seed in the Division I tournament that begins next Wednesday. The Raiders (14-0 AIA) will host No. 9 Pinnacle (10-4) in the first round at 3 p.m. Wednesday. This is the Raiders’ fifth straight year making state, though they haven’t advanced past the first round since 2011.
Two local girls teams — Cibola and Gila Ridge — qualified.
The Raiders (11-3) are Division I’s No. 14 seed, and will play at No. 3 Xavier Prep (12-2) in the first round next Tuesday at 3 p.m. This is Cibola’s second straight state appearance.
For Division II girls, Gila Ridge (13-1) is the No. 7 seed and will host No. 10 Greenway (13-1) in the first round next Tuesday at 3 p.m. This is the Hawks’ fourth straight state appearance and the third straight year they’ve hosted a first-round match, but they’re still seeking their first-ever postseason win.
A few local teams just narrowly missed state. In Division II boys, Gila Ridge (11-3) finished one spot outside of qualifying at No. 17 following a loss Monday to Lee Williams in the de facto Div. II Section III championship. And in Division III girls, Yuma Catholic (8-2) finished two spots out at No. 18.
The brackets for the state singles and doubles tournaments — which begin Friday — have also been posted. The first and second rounds will be played Friday at the sites listed below, with the third round to follow Saturday.
Here is a list of the local singles/doubles representatives:
Division I boys Indian School Park (Scottsdale)
Singles: Cibola’s Tawanda Zvavamwe, Kofa’s Durant, San Luis’ Ceasar Martinez Doubles: Cibola’s Jose Alvarado/ Jacob Gonzales, Kofa’s Spencer Griffin/Angel Negrete, San Luis’ Omar Felix/Romero
Singles: Cibola’s Amulya Doniparthi, Kofa’s Isayra Martinez, San Luis’ Anney Romo
Doubles: Cibola’s Sarah Trujillo/Jovanna Concepcion, Kofa’s Valeria Anguiano/Nataly Prieto, San Luis’ Jazmin Agundez/Bianca Lopez
Division II boys Scottsdale Ranch Park
Singles: Gila Ridge’s Andrew Polston, Yuma High’s Jacobo Rubio
Doubles: Gila Ridge’s Josh White/Brady Shill, Yuma High’s Nathaniel Lerma/Martin Pi
Division II girls Phoenix Tennis Center
Singles: Gila Ridge’s Allison Taylor, Yuma High’s Jennifer Sesma
Doubles: Gila Ridge’s Katie Gronbach/ Jessica Roth, Yuma High’s Jamilet Nunez/ Corvarrubias
Singles: Yuma Catholic’s Jesus Zamudio, Antelope’s Alex Jimenez
Doubles: Yuma Catholic’s Esteban Rosales/ Lance Gutierrez, Antelope’s Isaac Filerio/Kris Reyes
Division III girls Paseo Racquet Center (Glendale)
Singles: Yuma Catholic’s Anna Arce, Antelope’s Diana Espinoza
Doubles: Yuma Catholic’s Mia Casares/Estefania Zuniga, Antelope’s Julie Reyes/Abi Conde