Falcons girls tennis falls short of state

By Evan Thompson • May 24, 2017 10:00 am
Evan Thompson / The Record — South Whidbey sophomore Mary Zisette returns a volley during the class 1A District 1 championships at South Whidbey High School last week.
Evan Thompson / The Record — South Whidbey sophomore Mary Zisette returns a volley during the class 1A District 1 championships at South Whidbey High School last week.

The gauntlet that is the Emerald City League eliminated all three of South Whidbey’s competitors at the class 1A bi-district tennis championship on Saturday at Amy Yee Tennis Center in Seattle.

Senior Alex Foode lost to Christina Chai, a two-time doubles state champion, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the singles bracket. Foode, who won the District 1 championship last week, played Seattle Academy’s Penelope Owen in the consolation bracket. Owen, who placed fifth in the state last season, won 6-4, 6-0.

“Alex used a smart strategy against her, and that was topspin lobs and short dinks,” head coach Karyle Kramer wrote in an email.

Senior Bayley Gochanour and sophomore Mary Zisette’s lost to Overlake in the first round, and were eliminated by Forest Ridge in a 6-4, 6-4 loss.

“It was a close match and though they were upset about not going to state, they also felt good that they played well their last match of the season and Bayley’s last match of her high school career,” Kramer said.

Kramer said Gochanour plans to play tennis for Pacific Lutheran University next fall.