Wharton wins regional 3A team tennis crown
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

KATY - Wharton's tennis team brought home the Texas High School Tennis Coaches Association Region VI tournament championship Saturday from Katy High School.

Wharton took 15 of 19 matches from Bellville on Friday and whitewashed Columbus 19-0 on Saturday.

The regional championship was Wharton's eighth straight dating back to 2001.

"I think this is Bellville's strongest team in years," said Wharton coach Robyn Eller.

"We had to work to beat them. I thought that we played well in doubles and got an early lead. In singles, I was a bit disappointed in our play.

"I think that they out hustled us in some matches."

Wharton advances to this weekend's state tournament at the Waco Regional Tennis Center. Competition starts at 8:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

"We are on a roll right now, and I am excited about our chances at the state level," said Eller.

"In the fall, we played some of the best 3A teams in the state and did real well.

"Our goal is to bring home a medal - gold would be nice. Last year we placed third in the state tourney."

In boys singles matches against Bellville, Sylvester Malon lost to 6-3, 6-4; Rick Doetsch lost 6-1, 6-1; Chris Feyen won 5-7, 6-2 (10-5); Ryan Mc- Micken won 6-3, 6-1; Calvin Boehm won 6-4, 6-0; Maneshy Perera won 6-4, 5-7 (10-7); Kole Kubicek lost 8-5 and Tate Lowe lost 8-6.

In girls singles matches, Ashley Aaronson won 6-0, 6-2; Christie Viktorin lost 6-3, 1-6 (5-10); Jessica Kainer won 6-0, 6-1; Kim Janik won 7-5; 7-7 (10- 7); Paige Bahnsen won 6-1, 6-1; Rachel Gubbels won 6-2, 6-0; Paige Mata won 8-1 and Rachel Kocian won 6-1.

In boys doubles matches, Feyen and McMicken lost 9-8; Doetsch and Mayfield won 8-2 and Patrick Tuley and Perera won 8-3.

In girls doubles matches, Aaronson and Viktorin won 8-0; Kainer and Bahnsen won 8-0 and Janik and Gubbels won by the same score.

In mixed doubles, Bohem and Kocian won 8-6 and Massey and Lesak won by the same score.

In boys singles matches against Columbus, Mayfield won 6-0, 6-0; Doetsch won 6-1, 6-2; Feyen won 6-3, 7-5; McMicken won 6-0, 6-0; Boehm won 6-0, 6-1; and Massey won 8-0.

In girls singles matches, Aaronson won 6-0, 6-0; Viktorin won 6-0, 6-1; Kainer won 6-0, 6-1; Janik won 6-0, 6-1; Bahnsen won 6-0, 6-0 and Rachel Gubbels won 6-3, 6-1.

In boys doubles matches, Feyen and McMicken won 8-0. Doetsch and Mayfield won 8-0 and Tuley and Perera won 8-1.

In girls doubles matches, Aaronson and Viktorin won 8-2. Kainer and Bahnsen won 8-0; Janik and Rachel Gubbels won 8-0 and Mata and Lesak won 8-2.

In mixed doubles matches, Boehm and Kocian won 8-0 and Massey and Sara Gubbels won 8-1.