Cooper Complex Plays Host to MSHSAA Girls’ State Championships

In doubles play, Jenna Lin/Prathyankara Premkumar of Rock Bridge advanced to the quarterfinals, as did Natalie Beard/Elinor Beard of Smith-Cotton (Sedalia). Leah Martin/Windsor Brotherton of Kickapoo (Springfield) and Emily Peterson/Abigail Fulnecky of Nixa made it to the Round of 16. A team from St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis) defeated a team from John Burroughs for the title.

Class 2

At the team portion of the Class 2 state tournament, Thomas Jefferson Independent (Joplin) earned a fourth-place finish. Springfield Catholic and Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) fell in quarterfinal action. Ladue (St. Louis) beat Grain Valley (Kansas City) to win the championship.

In the singles tournament, Lila Griesemer of Springfield Catholic defeated Sarah Wilde of Capital City (Jefferson City) to progress to the quarterfinals. Kaitlyn Booker of Poplar Bluff bested Lanie Privett of Hannibal to make the quarters. And Allison Ding of Thomas Jefferson and Caroline Nelson of Springfield Catholic likewise made the quarters. Rachel Li of MICDS defeated Angela Chen of Ladue in an all-St. Louis final.

In doubles, Naiyah Wurdeman/Jenna Besperat of Carl Junction made a run to the semifinals, as did Hannah Lee/Britney Ung of Springfield Catholic. Chloe Stenger/Ann Beatty of Glendale (Springfield) reached the quarterfinals, as did Alyssa Flynn/Evelyn Sly of Willard. Vita Galati/Suna Mungee of Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) fell in the Round of 16. A tandem from Parkway North beat a team from Villa Duchesne in a St. Louis final.

Class 1

In team action of the Class 1 state tourney, Kennett, Father Tolton Catholic (Columbia), Logan-Rogersville and Marshall all reached the quarterfinals. Palmyra, College Heights Christian (Joplin), Bolivar, Carrollton and Chillicothe fell in the Round of 16. Clayton (St. Louis) knocked off St. Michael the Archangel (Kansas City) in the title matchup.

In singles play, Elena Williams of Lafayette County (Higginsville), Elizabeth Smith of Monett, Christi Tejada of Kennett and Avery Evans of Marshall reached the quarterfinal stage. Katherine Gooch of Mexico High School, Hennessy Brown of Nevada High School, Caitlyn Archer of Logan-Rogersville and Addison Odle of Father Tolton Catholic reached the Round of 16. Leiloni Payton (Lincoln College Prep) beat Aanya Singh (Clayton) in the final.

In doubles, Claire Bean/Handley McAtee of Holcomb captured the Class 1 championship without dropping a set. They beat a pairing from St. Michael the Archangel in the final. Rylee Washburn/Isabella Garr of Chillicothe reached the semifinals.

Molly Gottman/Laura Noland of Palmyra and Margaret Hillin/Abigail Haley of Saxony Lutheran (Jackson) made the quarters. Audrey Bittle/Molly Burk of Mt. Vernon, Emma Gillilan/Alyssa Hoefer of Lafayette County, Melaina Wilson/Briana Hann of Willow Springs and Alizah Russell/Bailey Kueker of Marshall qualified for the Round of 16.