GICC looks to be in the mix at Class B state tennis tournament

Over the past two seasons, the Grand Island Central Catholic girls tennis team moved up from fifth to second in the Class B State Tournament.

When play begins Thursday in this year's version at Lincoln's Nebraska Tennis Center, the Crusaders hope to take one final step.

GICC coach Matt Westfall feels his team has made the progress needed throughout the season to be in the title mix.

"Originally (to start the season), I looked at a top-five placing at state," he said. "That would still be a big accomplishment. We have played our best tennis at the end. That's where we're at right now.

"It's more of a mental hurdle right now than anything. You want to pull off the shots you pull off in practice. You want to pull off the shots you pull off against easier opponents. What separates you (at state) is how you play under pressure."

With three of the Crusaders' four entries seeded, Westfall feels they should be in the championship hunt along with Omaha Skutt, Omaha Duchesne and Elkhorn.

GICC is led by its doubles teams, which each earned a No. 2 seed.

The No. 1 doubles team of Hannah Bolton and Jessica Wojcik and the No. 2 doubles team of Ashley Chalupa and Jessica Bender are each 18-1.

"We had No. 2 seeds at the doubles positions, and that's where we thought we would be," Westfall said. "Our only losses are to the No. 1 seeds, which are solid teams from Beatrice. Both were pretty close matches. We hope to avenge the only losses for us."

Kiran Hamik (14-6) is the eighth seed at No. 2 singles.

"We hoped she'd be in the top eight, somewhere between fifth and eighth, so that's just about what we expected," Westfall said.

At No. 1 singles, Nicole Jacobson drew third-seeded Heather Hottman in the first round.

"Nicole Jacobson is unseeded, but toward the end of the season she played well, like a seeded player," Westfall said. "She lost to the No. 4 seed (Holdrege's Bronwyn Allmand) 8-6 last week, and it could have gone either way."

Class B Seedings

No. 1 Singles

1, Mary Lausten, Omaha Skutt Catholic (20-3); 2, Uma Ravipati, Omaha Duchesne Academy (17-2); 3, Heather Hottman, Elkhorn (26-5); 4, Bronwyn Allmand, Holdrege (28-8); 5, Lindsey Colburn, Adams Central (20-8); 6, Kelsey Ondrak, Lexington (30-6); 7, Brianna Watkins, McCook (24-19); 8, Katelyn Koll, Wilber-Clatonia (17-7).

No. 2 Singles

1, Alexis Kaiser, Omaha Skutt Catholic (22-1); 2, Catherine Tran, Omaha Duchesne Academy (15-2); 3, Jessica Hottman, Elkhorn (28-3); 4, Terah Maloley, Lexington (38-1); 5, Alexa Hoffman, Adams Central (19-7); 6, Margaret Abbott, Ogallala (9-1); 7, Hanah Swanhorst, McCook (28-15); 8, Kiran Hamik, Grand Island Central Catholic (14-6).

No. 1 Doubles

1, Mallory Johnsen/Jamie Gay, Beatrice (17-0); 2, Hannah Bolton/Jessica Wojcik, Grand Island Central Catholic (18-1); 3, Nickola Messbarger/Molly Heeney, Kearney Catholic (19-4); 4, Melissa Lyster/Amy Lester, McCook (40-30); 5, Christine Bolas/Julianne Kincaid, Omaha Skutt Catholic (16-3); 6, Mary Dunlay/Shannon O'Byrne, Omaha Duchesne Academy (11-5); 7, Michaela Fischer/Teagan Beck, York (21-9); 8, Kelsi Broekemeier/Katie Broekemeier, Elkhorn (19-9).

No. 2 Doubles

1, Amber Engler/Daleigh Fossler, Beatrice (12-0); 2, Ashley Chalupa/Jessica Bender, Grand Island Central Catholic (18-1); 3, Ellen Baldwin/Janna Montgomery, Kearney Catholic (24-6); 4, Jennifer Engel/Kate Webb, Omaha Duchesne Academy (14-0); 5, Cody Korus/Amy Been, McCook (36-7); 6, Allison Nedrig/Danielle Clayton, Holdrege (14-7); 7, Jessica Hare/Megan Dimmitt, Alliance (13-6); 8, Marie Krause/Margaret Carmody, Omaha Skutt Catholic (9-1).



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