The Cookeville tennis teams returned to district action with a pair of wins at White County Tuesday afternoon.
Emma Cate Jones and Natalie Crooks dropped just one game in three matches to lead the Lady Cavs to a 9-0 win. Jones blanked Maelybeth Young at No. 4, and Crooks shut out Haley Houston at No. 5. In doubles, they teamed to defeat Young and Haley Harris 8-1.
“Emma Cate is improving every day,” Coach Brian Rohr said. “And Natalie was maybe more impressive today. She didn’t play her best and still managed to win 8-0. Those two are going to play some very important matches for Cookeville High School.”
Hudson Taylor (over Harris at No. 3) and Caroline McCarter (over Laney Oakes at No. 2) also posted 8-0 wins. At No. 1, Sara Gaw took out Casey Sain. Bailey Dillon beat Emma Stewart 8-1 at No. 6.
In doubles, Gaw and McCarter won the top match 8-3 over Sain and Oakes. At No. 3, Taylor and Olivia Foutch beat Houston and Stewart 8-1.
On the boys’ side, Cookeville also swept the doubles. Jake Ward and Tanner Cagle set the tone with an 8-5 defeat of Cole Crosland and Peyton Mitchell. In the second match, Jacob McCarter and Marlon Ngo beat Dillon Summers and Nick Carter 8-1. Alek Kriskovich and Garrett Barker downed Eli McCormick and Tyler Vaughn, also 8-1.
In a matchup of the area’s top two players, Crosland took Round 1, edging Ward 8-6.
“It’s a pleasure to watch those two play,” Rohr said. “They’re both great players, but, more importantly, they’re both great kids who exhibit great sportsmanship.”
Ngo started the singles scoring with an 8-2 defeat of Mitchell. Kriskovich followed with an 8-2 win over Summers. At No. Barker took out Carter 8-2. Ethan George blanked McCormick at No. 5, and Chris Sheets defeated Vaughn 8-2.
Cookeville will participate in the Mid-season Tournament this weekend in Crossville. Cookeville matches listed below.
Friday, April 8
Cookeville vs. Warren Co. 9:00 a.m. at CCHS
Cookeville vs. Cumberland Co. 12:00 p.m. at CCHS
Saturday, April 9
Cookeville vs. Rhea Co. 9:00 a.m. at SMHS
Cookeville vs. Stone Memorial 12:00 p.m. at SMHS
Lady Cavs 9, White Co. 0
Singles
No. 1 – Sara Gaw (CHS) def. Casey Sain (wchs) 8-3
No. 2 – Caroline McCarter (CHS) def. Laney Oakes (wchs) 8-0
No. 3 – Hudson Taylor (CHS) def. Haley Harris (wchs) 8-0
No. 4 – Emma Cate Jones (CHS) def. Maelybeth Young (wchs) 8-0
No. 5 – Natalie Crooks (CHS) def. Haley Houston (wchs) 8-0
No. 6 – Bailey Dillon (CHS) Emma Stewart (wchs) 8-1
Doubles
No. 1 – Gaw-McCarter (CHS) def. Sain-Oakes (wchs), 8-3
No. 2 – Jones-Crooks (CHS) def. Harris-Young (wchs) 8-2
No. 3 – Taylor-Olivia Foutch (CHS) def. Houston-Stewart (wchs) 8-1
Cavaliers 8, White Co. 1
Singles
No. 1 – Cole Crosland (wchs) def. Jake Ward (CHS) 8-6
No. 2 – Marlon Ngo (CHS) def. Peyton Mitchell (wchs) 8-2
No. 3 – Alek Kriskovich (CHS) def. Dillon Summers (wchs) 8-2
No. 4 – Clif Barker (CHS) def. Nick Carter (wchs) 8-2
No. 5 – Ethan George (CHS) def. Eli McCormick (wchs) 8-0
No. 6 – Chris Sheets (CHS) def. Tyler Vaughn (wchs) 8-2
Doubles
No. 1 – Ward-Tanner Cagle (CHS) def. Crosland-Mitchell (wchs), 8-5
No. 2 –Ngo-Jacob McCarter (CHS) def. Summers-Carter (wchs), 8-1
No. 3 – Kriskovich-Barker (CHS) def. McCormick-Vaughn (wchs) 8-1
