Racquet Cats have another fine season

The Aledo Racquet Cats’ spring season came to an end recently at the 5A Region 1 Tournament in Lubbock.

The team qualified eight players from District 5-5A and six advanced to the second round in doubles. To qualify for regionals, a player must finish first or second at district.

In mixed doubles, District 5-5A champions Scott Mason and Bryanna Orr defeated a duo from El Paso 6-1, 6-0 and fell to Abilene Wylie 6-0, 6-2.

The boys doubles pair of Craig Mason and Hogan Posey won 6-2, 6-2 against Burleson Centennial before being eliminated by Argyle, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The duo won the District 5-5A title.

The girls doubles tandem of Paige Federman and Elli Kate Bussmeier won a close 7-5, 6-4 contest against Midlothian to open regionals. They then dropped a three-set match to Abilene Cooper, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.

In singles play, Ben Farmer lost in the boys first round to an opponent from Abilene Wylie, 6-0, 6-2. Kenley Germany, likewise, lost to Abilene Wylie, 6-1, 6-1.

“We had a very successful spring tennis season. I was very pleased with our showing at the regional tournament. We were focused. We battled for every point. We rose to the occasion and played some of our best tennis at regionals,” coach Joe McCoy said. “I am super proud of our effort and of every player who competed this spring.

“We will miss our outgoing seniors, Hogan Posey (three-time district champ in boys doubles) and Paige Federman, but we return the bulk of our squad next year.”

Those returning on the boys side are Farmer, Craig Mason, Scott Mason, Ibrahim Choudhry, Will Beyer, Jacob Heckathorn, and Francois Britz. On the girls side, they return Germany, Orr, Bussmeir, Eleanor Jack, Gracie Heydman, Patrice Loftin, Natalie Nawrocki, and Sydney Byrd. “All of our players have a great attitude and are hungry to get better for next year. I am so blessed to coach them and look forward to next season,” McCoy said.