When you’ve won the tournament so many years in a row that no one remembers exactly when the winning streak started, it’s kind of hard to get super excited about another victory.
But the SM East girls’ tennis team is of course quite pleased to have brought home another Sunflower League Tournament title last week — and Coach Sue Chipman says the girls are hoping to use the momentum to put in strong performances at regionals this week, and then state.
Singles favorite Mimi Fotopolous, a senior, had to sit out the league tournament with an injured thumb. But Lancer freshman Elizabeth Barnickel stepped into Fotopolous’s slot, and brought home second place in the singles bracket. Olathe Northwest’s Nodoka Hayashi, an exchange student from Japan, won the singles title.
Fotopolous, who won the 6A singles title last year, should play in the regional tournament, Chipman said.
Defending state champions senior Mollie Cooper and junior Elizabeth Wilcox continued their strong high school careers with another doubles title.