HIGH SCHOOL-KENTUCKY

KY State tennis tournament in a nutshell

Richard Skinner
rskinner@nky.com

Here's what you need to know about the upcoming Kentucky State tennis tournament.

When: Thursday through Saturday

Where: Lexington and Richmond (Thursday at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex, Shillito Park, Lexington Tennis Center and Eastern Kentucky University; Friday and Saturday at Boone/Downing Tennis Complex).

Schedule: Thursday – First- and second-round matches; Friday – Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches; Saturday – Semifinals (9 a.m.) and finals (doubles, 1 p.m.; singles, 3 p.m.).

Admission: Free Thursday; $10 Friday and Saturday (two-day ticket is $15)

Parking at UK: "located in "R" lots as well as the "Green" lot next to Commonwealth Stadium.

Pairings and brackets: www.khsaa.org/tennis (there may be schedule changes due to weather)

Boys' singles top four seeds and local participants: 1, Austin Hussey (Covington Catholic). 2, Brandon Lancaster (St. Xavier). 3, Gus Benson (Model). 4, David Bush (Rose Hills). NS, A.J. Berk (Scott). NS, Ben Emery (Highlands). NS, Anthony Bosch (Covington Catholic). NS, Jake Honschopp (Cooper).

Boys' doubles top four seeds and local participants: 1, Grant Hammons/Mat Townsen (McCracken County). 2, Matt Graft/Nick Waldeck (St. Xavier). 3, Coleman Cox/Nick Quinones (St. Xavier). 4, Mustafa Gardezi/Wes Tolsdorf (Trinity). NS, Mason Geiman/Jacob Walters (Campbell County). NS, Jake Haught/Nate Wichmann (Covington Catholic). NS, David Geis/Hudak (Ryle). NS, C.J. Moellering/Danny Schlachter (Covington Catholic). NS, Jacob Eberhard/Casey Garnett (Conner).NS, Max Freyburger/Tylo Mitchell (Highlands).

Girls' singles top four Seeds and local participants: 1, Madeline Rolph (Sayre). 2, Ellie Gerlach (Christian Academy – Louisville). 3, Michelle McKamey (McCracken County). 4, Meredith Laskey (Highlands). NS, Brooke Warden (Dixie Heights). NS, Sydney Hancock (Scott). NS, Sarah Hoffman (Highlands). NS, Audrey North (St. Henry). NS, Caroline Krumme (Notre Dame).

Girls' doubles top four seeds and local participants: 1, Sarah Stearman/Emily Zelichenok (Manual). 2, Alexis Austin/Caroline Cox (Collegiate). 3, Bess Fley/Abby Roebker (Notre Dame). 4, Ashley Hammons/Mary Elaine Kuo (Sacred Heart).5-8, Abby Herman/Lexi Herman (Highlands). NS, Elizabeth Pawsat/Emily Pawsat (Beechwood). NS, Allie Bishop/Jordan Tapp (Scott). NS, Lauren Auteri/Caroline Christian (Highlands). NS, Emma Hughes/Abigail Kennedy (Notre Dame).

What to expect: Hussey, a junior, is the defending boys' state singles champion and if the seeds play out he will face the player he beat in last year's title match, St. Xavier's Lancaster, in the final.

Hussey won last year 6-4, 7-5. He didn't lose a set in last year's state tournament as the No. 3 seed and won his third straight Ninth Region title this year without losing a single game.

No area boys' doubles teams are seeded.

Defending girls' singles champ Rolph is the No. 1 seed this year after winning as the No. 3 seed last year.

She beat this year's No. 2 seed Gerlach in the final.

Laskey, a junior who won her sixth straight 10th Region title, would face Rolph in the semifinal round if she advances that far.

Last year she lost in the quarterfinal round to McKamey, who is this year's No. 3 seed.

The outstanding Sacred Heart doubles duo of Katherine English and Sydney Thompson both graduated as did both of last year's runner-up team Laura Irons and Catriona Shaughnessy, which leaves this year's doubles event wide open.

The Notre Dame duo of Fley and Roeb­ker and the Herman sisters from Highlands both have a chance to go deep into the tournament.