The defending MAIS State AA boys and girls tennis champion Manchester Mavericks got off to a successful start to the 2016 season by defeating Canton Academy 7-2 on Monday afternoon in Canton.
The Mavs graduated 9 of their 14 players from last year’s championship team – Annie Peaster, Laura Ellis Royal, John Adams, Wister Hitt, Hayes Dent, Adam Erickson, Alex Dixon, Sarah Grace Davis and Callie Bridgforth.
“I was really pleased with our win over Canton, because this is the youngest and least experienced team we have had at Manchester in several years,” commented MA tennis coach Debbie Crisler. “Only 5 of our 14 players had ever played a varsity match, and I am really impressed with how everyone fought and competed. If they will work hard, we could surprise some good teams this season.”
MA senior Harper Guthrie led the Mavs to victory with his 6-1, 6-3 win at #1 boys singles.
“Harper has worked as hard as anyone to prepare for his senior season, and it showed on the court,” added Crisler. “Last year was his first season on the team and he established himself as a fighter for every point.”
Freshman Upton Hitt dominated play at #2 boys singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win, while the MA girls singles players competed in their first varsity matches. Monica Morrison demonstrated beautiful strokes at #1 girls singles, but fell 6-2, 6-1 to a very steady player for Canton. Meanwhile, Josie Coker’s debut was impressive at #2 girls singles with her 6-0, 6-0 victory.
The feature match was at #1 girls doubles where MA’s two-time state champion Margaret Dent and state runner-up Elizabeth Turner faced one of their toughest opponents from last season – Sara Spencer Pace and Betsy Pace. Last season, the Mav duo lost the first match to Canton, but then defeated them twice later in tournament play. Just like last season, the Mavs came up short in this rivalry match 6-4, 6-3, but this year Canton is not in MA’s division, so this is likely to be their only meeting on the court this season.
MA senior Cole Carpenter and freshman Kinkead Dent represented the Mavs at #1 boys doubles for their first varsity match and had the goods in an easy 6-0, 6-3 win. Over on the #2 boys doubles court, senior Nathan Carroll and his 8th grade brother Matt Carroll steamrolled to a 6-0, 6-1 rout in their first varsity match for the Mavs.
Junior Nettie Taylor Barbour played #2 girls singles the last two years, but teamed with 8th grader and first-time varsity member Mary Sibley McGraw to represent the Mavs on the #2 girls doubles court. Technically, they won by default because one of the Canton players was ill, but Canton’s Betsy Pace teamed with Kate Simpson for her second match of the day. Canton got off to a fast start winning the first set 6-3, but Barbour and McGraw’s comfort and play improved as the match proceeded resulting in a comeback victory 3-6, 6-3, 10-2.
Finally, Reid Bain and Marie Lewis teamed for Manchester on the mixed doubles court for their first season on the varsity team and came away with a brilliant 6-4, 6-2 thrashing of a more seasoned Canton pair.
Manchester took its 1-0 record to face district foe Central Hinds on Tuesday at Parham Bridges in Jackson and the match was not complete before press time. The Mavericks play Park Place and Hartfield in Yazoo City next Tuesday and Thursday.
