Aquinas captures 5A tennis title

WICHITA | St. Thomas Aquinas coach Amy Person wanted to sit back and enjoy the Kansas 5A state tournament singles final Saturday between her senior Nicole Jara and sophomore Natalie Looney.

Some intense moments during the match kept that from happening. But that intensity also helped the Saints win their second consecutive 5A title.

Jara finished her high school career with back-to-back singles championships, defeating Looney 6-1, 7-5 at Riverside Tennis Center. The 1-2 finish, coupled with a ninth-place finish by Lauren Huddlestun and Adreanne Orlanes in doubles, gave Aquinas the team title with 40 points.

Jara completed a 23-4 season by avenging a loss to Looney in last week’s Gardner-Edgerton regional.

“Last time, I wasn’t patient enough,” Jara said. “That’s what made the difference.”

Looney, who teamed with Elizabeth Close to win the 5A doubles title last fall, failed to hold serve in the opening set. After rifling a forehand winner past Looney, Jara took a 3-1 lead and control of the set.

“I just tried to keep her moving so she couldn’t get an easy shot,” Jara said.

Looney, who went 22-5 in her first season of singles, offered more resistance in the second set. The competition got intense enough that Person met with the players after Looney protested a line call. They finished the match with a line judge.

Jara won the final two games, taking advantage of errant overhead smashes by Looney in both games.

Bishop Miege seniors Meghan McMahon and Hannah Crandall lost to doubles champions Casyn Buchman and Kirsten Holle of McPherson in the semifinals.

submitted by SCOTT PASKE - 2009-10-17 20:38:01

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