For the second consecutive year, the Bridgeport High School boys’ and girls’ tennis teams captured the Big 10 championships. This year's tournament was held this past weekend at Robert C Byrd High School.

 

“I’m very proud and excited for all of my players,” said Coach Dan Oliveto. “They have worked hard all year and this was our first goal as a team.”

 

The next goal, he said, is to win regionals – scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at RCB. And the next goal, of course, is to capture state championships.

 

For the boys, Bryce Williams captured first place in line 1 singles and Ben Smith in line 4 singles. Brady Hillegas was runner-up in line 2 singles. Doubles action produced even more first places. In line 1 doubles, Williams and Hillegas claimed a Big 10 victory, as did Ben Smith and Emery Smith in line 2 doubles and Grant Duvall and Andrew Wilson in line 3 doubles.

 

Though the girls accumulated enough points to capture the overall win, there were only two first place finishes. Anna Wilfong claimed the win in line 2 singles and the team of Eleanor Noone and Rachel Lamm captured the championship in line 3 doubles. In runner-up positions were Taylor Abraham in line 1 singles, Abraham and Wilfong in line 1 doubles and Leigh Hornor and Paige Rice in line 2 doubles.

 

Winning their first round matches was big in gathering enough points for the win, Oliveto said.

 

“Really, every boy and girl won their quarterfinal matches,” he said “This all helps with team points.”

 

In addition to the single players and teams mentioned above, Olivia Rush won quarterfinals in line 4 singles, Hornor in line 2 singles and Emery Smith in line 3 singles. 

 

Editor's Note: Photos of Smith and Abraham by Ben Queen Photography taken during the regular season.