Emilia Mantilla waited beneath the shade of a navy-and-white cover tent as her Friday afternoon quarterfinal match approached.
The only senior on Casady’s ladies tennis group had competed in postseason tournaments yearly of her highschool profession, however a way of novelty crammed this one. The faces surrounding her weren’t the opponents she had confronted in earlier seasons.
The ocean of tents scattered throughout Oklahoma Metropolis Tennis Heart was a unique sight, too.
“I used to be fairly nervous strolling in,” Mantilla stated. “I didn’t anticipate myself to be that nervous, however after I simply obtained on the courtroom and began shifting my ft so much, making an attempt to get my nerves out by ft motion, it helped so much.”
Though Casady has a tennis custom, the Oklahoma Metropolis non-public faculty hasn’t participated within the Oklahoma Secondary College Actions Affiliation till this season.
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Mantilla and her teammates savored their introduction to the Oklahoma highschool tennis match.
And the Cyclones skilled success.
Each Casady contender gained a first-round match to succeed in the Friday quarterfinals, and the Cyclones may have a number of representatives within the Saturday semis, bringing a proud smile to first-year coach Billy Popejoy’s face.
“Simply superior,” Popejoy stated. “(They) dealt with the stress very well and carried out the very best they’ve all season.”
Ava Sachdev and Leela Walia persevered by a prolonged 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 match in opposition to Audrey Boatright and Jayce Cole of Byng to safe a semifinal spot in No. 1 doubles, whereas No. 2 doubles tandem Niva Hapani and Haya Zubair additionally superior. In No. 2 singles, Lilly Ross claimed a 6-1, 6-0 win in opposition to Jayla Harris of Harding Constitution Prep earlier than defeating Riley Demunbrun of Crossings Christian with the identical rating.
Casady’s No. 1 singles competitor, Mantilla, zipped previous Yocelin Hernandez of Byng, 6-0, 6-0. Mantilla then dropped a 6-2, 6-4 match to Brityn Waller of Christian Heritage, the defending group champion.
Robust matches occur. The battle-tested Cyclones know that effectively.
Casady, a highschool with round 290 college students, beforehand competed within the Southwest Preparatory Convention. The Cyclones traveled to Texas for tournaments and confronted many dominant challengers. Within the OSSAA, they match up with groups which can be nearer to their competitors stage, Sachdev stated.
“Earlier than, in SPC, we might form of simply lose each weekend,” Sachdev stated.
Mantilla, who typically discovered herself on the alternative facet of the web from Ivy League commits within the SPC, had an analogous perspective.
“It was positively troublesome,” Mantilla stated. “All these massive colleges are actually, actually robust in tennis, so it was form of laborious seeing loss after loss. However we’d get some wins in there, and it was actually enjoyable attending to journey with the group down in Texas.”
As an alternative of packing for journeys to Houston, the Cyclones needed to drive solely about seven miles southwest of their faculty for this 12 months’s match, and so they’re embracing the OSSAA festivities.
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Every year, colleges typically pitch their group tents in the identical spots, very like followers scrambling for prime tailgating actual property outdoors school soccer stadiums. Casady’s tent, nestled underneath a leafy tree, displayed a big banner that includes their group photograph for passers-by to see.
Anthony Pham helped the Cyclones safe a great gathering place. Pham, Casady’s boys tennis coach, additionally works as a educating professional at Oklahoma Metropolis Tennis Heart, so he has a twin function this week of supporting the Cyclones’ ladies group and ensuring the occasion runs easily.
“They’re loving it,” Pham stated. “It’s enjoyable for them.”
Whereas some match contenders are in search of school tennis scholarships, Mantilla has different postgraduate plans. She plans to review biochemistry at Notre Dame and observe as a pediatrician. However she intends to remain near the courtroom, becoming a member of Notre Dame’s membership group so she will hold enjoying the game her mother and father additionally love.
Till then, the Cyclones’ senior is taking within the firsts and lasts of her highschool profession at Oklahoma Metropolis Tennis Heart.
“I’m actually excited, and I actually like all of the tent setups,” Mantilla stated. “It’s a extremely enjoyable surroundings. It’s been actually enjoyable watching all my associates from different colleges play. We’re excited to see the place our group can go.”
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Extra takeaways from 1st day of tennis match
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Sofia Acuña’s quest for her third straight state title is off to a promising begin. The Classen SAS senior hasn’t dropped a set at state. She cruised previous Ella Ramsey of Claremore and Madilyn Whittaker of Altus to succeed in the Class 5A semifinals.
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Reigning 6A group champion Jenks is having one other robust match. The Trojans have semifinalists in No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles, No. 1 doubles and No. 2 doubles. Edmond Memorial has semifinalists in No. 1 singles, No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles.
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With a brand new doubles accomplice, Heritage Corridor sophomore Tokara Henderson is sustaining state match success. Final season, Henderson gained the Class 5A No. 1 doubles championship with Jasmine Crain. This 12 months, Crain is competing within the Chargers’ No. 1 singles spot, whereas Henderson is paired with Eloise Nasr. The doubles tandem reached Saturday’s semifinals, and Crain superior in singles with a quarterfinal victory in opposition to Hailey Hibbets of Enid.
This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Why Casady is savoring Oklahoma highschool tennis tournaments
