Ruston High tennis qualifies 11 for state tournament
Ruston High School qualified 11 athletes for the LHSAA State Tennis Tournament. Bearcats from left are Jordan Blount, Nate Johnson, Will Fendley, Ashton Wick, Micah Blount and Jake Hawkins. Lady Cats from left are Berkeley Parr, Maddie Clement, GiGi Daughtry, Lillian Fendley and Millie Keen. Photo courtesy of David Poe
The Ruston High tennis program will send 11 athletes to the LHSAA State Tennis Tournament next week after an impressive showing at the Division 1 Region 1 tennis tournament Monday and Tuesday.
Ruston’s 11 state qualifiers, believed to be the most in program history, include Jordan Blount, Nate Johnson, Will Fendley, Ashton Wick, Micah Blount, Jake Hawkins, Berkeley Parr, Maddie Clement, GiGi Daughtry, Lillian Fendley, and Millie Keen.
Ruston took advantage of playing at the comforts of home at the Division I Region I tournament, with the Ruston girls tying for 2nd out of 11 teams, while the boys team finished 3rd out of 11 teams. Overall, Ruston finished tied for 2nd at the regional tournament.
Ruston wa l ked away with more than just team hardware, as Will Fendley and Jake Hawkins were the Boys Doubles Regional Champions, while Lillian Fendley and GiGi Daughtry were the Girls Doubles Regional Runner-Up.
The number of state qualifiers is a vast improvement for the program compared to last season when the Bearcats sent Will Fendley to state in singles and the doubles team of Myles Hull and Cooper Stephenson.
The Bearcats will participate in the LHSAA State Tennis Tournament starting Thursday April 25 at ULM.
