Wall, Mason, Reagan County Win State Tennis Titles

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Concho Valley schools are returning home with five state championships from the UIL State Tennis Tournament on Friday.

Wall’s Amelia Taylor won the Class 3A girls singles title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Corpus Christi London’s Kailey Albrecht.

It was nearly an all-Wall state final, but Lady Hawk Katelynn Holtmann was tripped up in three sets in the semifinals by Albrecht 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

In Class 2A, Mason added three more state titles to its legendary tradition, giving the program an unbelievable 117 state championships.

Mason actually had an entrant in the state final of all five divisions, but it was the singles titles that proved to be elusive.

Reagan County’s Leevi Knight went through back-to-back Mason players to claim the boys singles title.

Knight dropped the first set but rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Mason’s Keltan Jordan in the final. He beat Russell Watson 6-3, 6-2 in the semis.

Crawford’s Aubrey Carroll rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Mason’s Shaylee Edmiston in the girls final.

Mason’s boys doubles team of Carlton Schmidt and Keegan Ratliff won 7-5, 6-2 over Seymour’s Layton McAdams and Sam Dryer.

The other two doubles finals were all-Mason showdowns.

Mason’s girls doubles team of Conley Bownds and Kalli Criswell held off teammates Emma McCrea and Heidi Smith 6-3, 7-6 (5).

In mixed doubles, Cade Dudney and Scout Magnus won 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3 over Cooper Ratliff and Taylor Bierschwale.

In Class 1A, Olfen freshman Grant Halsell lost 6-3, 6-3 in the state semifinals to defending champion Colt Lawrence of Rising Star. 

Halsell is the first-ever Olfen athlete to qualify for a UIL state tournament in any sport, and he’ll return home with its first medal, a bronze.

Menard’s boys doubles team of Zeke Hernandez and Cado Bannowsky also lost in the state semifinals after being edged 7-6 (2), 6-4 by Miami’s Breken Early and William Sims.