Panther duo places third in league

WAMEGO — Madison Walters and Nicole Turner teamed up to place third in number two doubles for the Concordia High School girls' tennis team in the North Central Kansas League tournament on Monday.
Walters opened with a narrow 8-7 loss to Clay Center. They defeated Wamego 8-5, lost to Abilene 8-2 and then beat Chapman 8-6 and Marysville, 8-5.
Concordia finished sixth as a team with 15 points.
Abilene won the tournament with 40 points. Marysville was second with 30 and Wamego was third with 25.
“We were very proud of the all of the girls and the way they competed today,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeir said, “Even when facing tougher opponents our girls battled hard and made the adjustments necessary to take many games to deuce. We were really happy for Madison, a senior, as she was able to bring home a third-place medal with Nicole.”
Bethanie McCall and Macy McMillan finished fourth in number one doubles for Concordia. They opened with an 8-4 win over Clay Center.
McCall and McMillan lost 8-2 to Wamego, 8-0 to Abilene and 8-1 to Chapman and downed Marysville, 8-6.
Ciara Kearn placed fifth in number one singles for the Panthers. She lost 8-3 to Ella Girton, Clay Center; 8-4 to Rhoni Eveland, Wamego; and 8-1 to Zoe Cooper, Abilene.
Kearn beat Naliya Contreras, Chapman, 8-1, and then fell 8-1 to Shelby Downard, Marysville.
Arista Bombardier was sixth in number two singles for Concordia. She lost 8-1 to Tegan Stratton, Clay Center; 8-1 to Ellie Hildreth, Wamego; 8-3 to Bella Sims, Abilene; 8-7 to Sophie Jones, Chapman; and 8-0 to Sierra Becker, Marysville.
Concordia will compete in the Class 4A regional tournament in Buhler on Saturday.
The Concordia junior varsity placed second in the league tournament, also played Monday in Wamego.
Concordia scored 40 points.
Abilene captured the team title with 50 points. Chapman was third with 24.
Karlee Wahlmeier finished second for the Panthers in number one singles. She defeated Rylee Ehlebracht, Clay Center, 8-1; defeated Claire Wohler, Wamego, 6-1; lost to Anna Zey, Abilene, 6-0; defeated Grace Mosher, Chapman, 6-2; and defeated Pilar Carrillo, Marysville, 6-1.
Liz Duvall was second in number two singles for the Panthers. She defeated Reece Geer, Clay Center, 6-1; defeated Trinity Zahn, Wamego, 6-0; lost to Savannah Stout, Abilene, 6-5; defeated Nicole Blocker, Chapman, 6-2; and defeated Faith Flower, Marysville, 6-0.
Kaitlin Riley and Trinity Wilcox were second in number one doubles for Concordia. They defeated Wamego 6-0, lost to Abilene 6-2, defeated Chapman 6-2 and defeated Marysville, 6-2.
Gracy Tracy and Teryn Tracy placed second in number two doubles for the Panthers. They defeated Clay Center 6-2, lost to Abilene 6-2, defeated Chapman 6-2 and defeated Marysville, 6-4.
“We are very proud of these girls. They knew they had a shot to win a lot of games and they stepped up to the challenge,” Wahlmeier said.