South Whidbey’s Riley Newman continued his trek to return to the state tennis championship.

Newman finished first in the district playoffs by defeating Avery West (Sehome), 6-2, 6-3 in the final match. Before that Newman defeated Van Morgen in the semifinal 6-0, 6-3 and won his opening match 6-0, 6-0.

Morgen finished fourth after his loss to Burlington-Edison 6-4, 7-5.

South Whidbey’s doubles teams all lost in the first round. First doubles Harrison Price and Zach Comfort lost 7-5, 6-1 to Bellingham. The Falcons’ second doubles Kyle Simchuk and Aren Mattens lost to Squalicum 6-3, 6-1. Third doubles Taylor Simmons and Hayden Nichols lost to Sehome 2, 6-2, 6-1.

South Whidbey finished the district tournament in second place behind Sehome High School. Bellingham finished third.

Newman will compete in the 2A state tennis tournament in May.