Her college choice decided, Lakeside senior Tatum Rice nears the end of a spectacular high school tennis career with one more goal in mind.
The future Arkansas Razorback stayed on course for her second-straight Class 5A championship with two victories in the state tournament Monday. But in doubles, not in singles, after defeating younger sister Thea for state and overall championships last year.
Lakeside coach Shawny Green paired Tatum Rice with Caroline Zeiser in the conference tournament and on Monday watched her two veterans win 6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-1 matches against teams from Nettleton and Pulaski Academy, respectively.
Rice and Zeiser face the Valley View team of Bailey McAlexander and Morgan McAlexander in a 10:30 a.m. semifinal today at Lakeside. Defending 5A and overall champions Abby Minton and Katie Swanson of PA face a Valley View team next after 6-0, 6-2 victories Monday.
Junior Thea Rice won 6-0, 6-0 matches against Maumelle's Sue Vong and Little Rock Christian's Anna Young. Next up is Pulaski Academy's Micah Meghreblian with the winner to face Little Rock Christian's Taylor Shaw or Valley View's Hunter Roper in the afternoon final.
Winning one point each for the Lady Rams were Cheyenne Sweatt in singles and Olivia Dolan and Madeline Porter in doubles.
Lakeside's hopes for the boys state championship rest on the rackets of its doubles teams. Jack Henry Hill and Spencer Kauffman, 2014 state and overall champions, reached the semifinals with 6-0, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-3 matches against Paragould and Alma at Hot Springs Country Club. Lakeside's No. 2 team, Luke Mangan and Blake Wooldridge, helped the cause with 6-2, 6-4 and 6-0, 6-0 victories over Greenbrier and Nettleton.
Morgan and Wooldridge face top seeds Foster Rogers and Tyler Angtuaco of Pulaski Academy while Hill (a linebacker on the Rams' football team) and Kauffman meet PA veterans Robert Cain and Jack Meghreblian. Hill and Kauffman defeated the PA team in three sets in the 2014 Class 5A final at Lakeside.
It's an all-Pulaski County final four in boys singles, defending 5A and overall champion Hunter Harrison of PA winning both matches Monday by 6-0, 6-0 scores. He faces Little Rock Christian's Jess Simpson next. On the other side, it's PA's Jake Bridges vs. Maumelle's A.J. Rogers.
Lakeside's Noah Ross and Noah McClanahan each won a first-round match before meeting Bridges (6-0, 6-0) and Harrison, respectively.
- Tatum Rice recently committed verbally to Arkansas, where her mother, the former Tracy Webb, starred in basketball out of Batesville High. The next NCAA early signing period is in November, Garland County basketball players Exavian Christon (Hot Springs) having committed to Louisiana Tech and Kellie Lampo (Jessieville) to Harding.
Sports on 10/18/2016