GHS facing tough competition in district tennis tournament
April 7, 2009

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

Tough competition.

That’s what the Greenville Lady Lions and Lady Lions will face today during the District 10-4A tennis tournament. As usual, the district is loaded with some strong players from tennis powers Highland Park and Richardson Pearce, plus those from Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath. Royse City, Newman Smith and R.L. Turner are also in the field.

The two-day tournament gets under way at 8:30 a.m. today at Highland Park in University Park and Fair Oaks Tennis Center in Dallas.

The draw for the opening round wasn’t as tough on the Greenville players as it could have been, according to Greenville coach Don Johnson.

“When you look at our draw we’re not in terrible shape,” he said. “But they’re all strong players. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Greenville’s top boys doubles team of Andrew Harrison and Colin Doby drew a tough draw again Pearce’s Stulmaker and Steiss, the No. 2 seeded team.

Daniel Dennis and Dillon Casper of Greenville will face Royse City’s Reel and Stevens in the first round.

Skylar Pruner, the top boys singles player for Greenville, faces Royse City’s No. 2, Newsom, in the first round.

Greenville’s No. 2, Halen Phillips, drew Rockwall’s No. 2 singles player, Nelson.

Olivia Lofton and Tess Knudson, Greenville’s No. 1 in girls doubles, will battle R.L. Turner’s top team, Woody and Nguyen in girls doubles.

The other Greenville match features Kaitlyn Twilley and Chandler Hill versus the Rockwall team of Taylor and French.

Rahell Ata and Christian Boshart of Greenville drew No. 4 seed Elwood and Piranian of Highland Park in the first round of mixed doubles.

Connor Mulkey and Courtney Hunnicutt of Greenville drew Royse City’s McCord and Farrell.

Katie Kimberlin of Greenville drew Nguyen of R.L. Turner in girls singles while Claire Deets of Greenville faces No. 3 seed Stone of Highland Park.