After the OHSAA state individual girls tennis tournament Saturday, the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association tournament was held Sunday. In previous years, the event was held in Reynoldsburg outside of Columbus. For 2022, it was at St. Xavier High School, giving the locals a short bus ride for a change.
Making the trip was Mason in Division I and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy in Division II. Both teams made the championship with Mason facing North Canton Hoover and CHCA squaring off with Hathaway Brown.
Both enjoyed the short happy jaunts home as champions.
Division II
CHCA first took its first state team title in 22 years gaining a measure of revenge on Hathaway Brown who defeated them last year.
"State championships are hard to come by," CHCA coach Matt Dektas said. "When you get them, it's an awesome feeling. Hathaway Brown is like the (NFL) Patriots of girls tennis. They've won so many and they're a dynasty."
Seniors Payton Puryear/Ananya Annapantula won first doubles 6-1, 6-3 and Mika Morris won third singles 6-0, 6-3. That set up freshman Sophia Thompson who finished as the DII individual runner-up in singles Saturday. Thompson beat state doubles qualifier Kate Mills 6-4, 6-1 to cause Eagles fans to erupt in cheer.
"You can't have a better weekend if you're a freshman other than winning the final," Dektas said. "What an amazing weekend for her. You would want it to come down to her with her heart she showed all weekend."
Said Puryear, "Especially after last year. It just feels great!"
Doubles mate Annapantula credited the versatility of the Eagles for the victory.
"This is such a good team, especially the upcoming freshmen!" she said. "They are amazing! We had good vibes, good energy and that's what really helped us win."
More on Sunday's matches:
In their early morning semi, CHCA swept the singles matches with Annapantula, Thompson and Morris helping the Eagles down Columbus Academy. The Cassidy/ Puryear doubles team played first doubles. Julianna Filomena/Lucy Snyder played second doubles. Other CHCA members are: Lauren Carlson, Lindsay Carlson, Tara Chalasani, Evy Danemayer, Jacqueline Dempsey, Faith Jostworth, Grace Jostworth, Noelle Nischwitz, Christine O'Donnell, Grace Pearson, Leilani Sesay, Abbi Stokes and Ava Van Kuren.
In the final Cassidy played first singles and was leading when Thompson clinched it for the Eagles. Filomena/Snyder again teamed up on second doubles.
Division I
Mason's Shyla Aggarwal ruled as the state singles champ in DI on Saturday and then helped her team take down North Canton Hoover for state team supremacy. Playing Tess Bucher, whom she also defeated Saturday, Aggarwal prevailed 6-3, 6-4. In third singles, Pratyusha Chaudhuri won 6-3, 6-1. That left Harshita Uppuganti at second singles, having been moved from doubles from earlier in the afternoon. The senior joined Aggarwal winning her final prep match 6-3, 6-0 as the Comets sprinted to celebrate on the court.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet but I bet on the car ride home it will," Aggarwal said of her Mason swan song. "It's a great way to end the season. We got the win. That's all we wanted."
Uppuganti wasn't sure about being moved to singles in the championship, but clearly had a change of opinion once she was surrounded by her teammates after the clinching victory.
"My opponent was kind of tough," Uppuganti said. "It was really cool."
Aggarwal's tennis career will continue at Yale, while Uppuganti is looking forward to focusing on academics somewhere.
It also turns out to be a grand finale for Mason coach Mike Reid. After 12 years coaching the girls teams and eight with the boys, he is stepping aside to spend more time with family while still catching an occasional match.
His triumph Sunday with Mason was their sixth straight OTCA championship.
"That's it!" Reid said. "This is the right class, the right time to go out. It's been a great run."
More on Sunday's matches:
In the semifinal vs. New Albany, Aggarwal took care of Richardlyne Francois 6-1, 6-1 in first singles, Nishi Gandra beat Paige Cornelius in second, 6-4, 6-0 and Chaudhuri beat her opponent in third singles, 6-0, 6-2 to decide the match. In doubles, Uppuganti/Risha Chada and Riya Zutshi/Ana Gotike were leading their doubles matches at the time.
Chada/Gandra were leading their first doubles match when the championship was clinched and Gotike/Tanya Marla were in second doubles.
Other members of the Comets are: Varsha Battina, Sonali Dasari, Anika Dhingra, Harshita Ganga, Annie Li, Swaathi Reddy, Maria Sonal, Vivian Tang, Macy Walker and Riya Zutshi.
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