Area entries fall in opening round of state tennis

ALBUQUERQUE – Both entries in state individual tennis competition were eliminated in the first round on Wednesday at Jerry Cline Tennis Center.

In Class 5A boys singles, Clovis High senior David Case went down in a 6-4, 6-3 decision against Albuquerque High eighth-grader Mitchell Rocha 6-4, 6-3. Rocha went on to make a strong showing, reaching the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Philip Bosin of Eldorado 6-1, 6-0.

In Class 1-4A girls doubles, Portales High senior Jenna Brown and junior Maggie Duong absorbed a 6-1, 6-2 setback at the hands of Grants seniors Chloe Rychener and Kylette Garcia. Rychener and Garcia were eliminated in the quarterfinal round by junior Jennifer Gallegos and freshman Olivia Suazo of Espanola Valley 6-4, 6-3.

Team competition for Classes 6A, 5A and 1-4A was scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Golf – Clovis High seniors Jett Stone and Jolei Adkins in Class 5A and Portales High junior Paige Yazzie in Class 4A have qualified for state golf competition on Monday and Tuesday in the Albuquerque Area. The 5A tourney is slated for Twin Warriors Golf Club while the 4A meet will be at Santa Ana Golf Club.

Stone ensured his trip to state on Tuesday, taking medalist honors with a 38-33 – 71, one under par, in the District 4-5A tournament at Rockwind Golf Course in Hobbs. Adkins, who had already qualified, finished third on the girls’ side and led the Lady Wildcats at 45-40 – 85.

The Wildcats shot a season-best 361 to finish third as a team in boys competition, tailing Hobbs (320) and Carlsbad (329). The Lady Cats, meantime, were second at 380, behind Hobbs at 353.

The 71 was easily Stone’s best outing of the spring.

“Other than a few holes, he played pretty good,” Cats coach Dale Fullerton said. “He just hit a lot of greens (in regulation), and I think he only needed 28 putts.”

In District 4/1-3Aon Tuesday at New Mexico Military Golf Course in Roswell, the host Colts posted a two-stroke advantage for boys team honors over Clovis Christian 342-344. Both will send their teams to Monday and Tuesday’s state competition at Canyon Club G.C. near Albuquerque.

Texico’s girls also qualified as a team, winning the district title at 404 to 453 for Dexter. They were the only full teams in the field, and both are headed to Canyon Club as well.

Junior Kaprix Foote, CCS’s lone girls player, shot 56-56 – 112 on Tuesday and will also represent CCS at state.

Junior Noah McKay led the Eagles at 41-41 – 82 while seniors O.B. Blanco and Caleb Van Beek both shot 43-42- 85 and senior Austin Lingnau followed at 44-42 – 86. But Blanco was not on the designated five-man roster and played as an individual, so his score did not count toward the team tally.

For the girls, Texico junior Liz Elam earned medalist honors at 41-46 – 87, and the Lady Wolverines easily had enough to get past Dexter.