Henryetta’s Lady Knights placed sixth overall at the conclusion of the state tennis tournament Saturday. Two of the HHS entries, the #1 doubles and #2 singles, wound up in third place battles that tested their endurance.
IMG 4476Twice the HHS girls went into the semi-finals facing the one-and two-seeded individuals and doubles teams.
Natalie Smith lost her #2 singles semi-final contest against top-seeded Emily Elmburg from Holland Hall. Elmburg would go on to take the state title. Smith, who was fourth-seeded, lost 6-0 and 6-3 in the semi-finals.
She started off the bracket winning 6-3 and a long 7-5 match against unseeded Reagan Ridley from Harrah. That set the stage for an endurance matchup against Maggie Johnson from Ada. Smith lost the first set 1-6 but came back to win 6-4 and 6-2.
IMG 4516The loss put her in contention with Erica Kelley from Riverfield for third place. Another marathon battle ensued with Smith inning the first set 7-6. She lost the next two 6-2 and 6-3 giving her fourth.
HHS doubles team of Rachel Montgomery and Summer Bryant also went through three sets in their quest for third place. Playing against Bendue and Hall from Perry, the Lady Knights won the opener 6-4 but lost 6-0 and 6-1.
Bryant and Montgomery started with 7-6 and 6-2 wins over Nguyen and Pinion from Clinton in the #1 doubles opener. They took  6-4 and 6-3 wins over Cobb and Jones from Elk City but lost 6-2 and 6-2 to Burdon and Sheffield from Ada.
Fallon Rodgers, the HHS #1 singles entry lost her opening match with Tayra Ward from Anadarko 6-2, 6-2 but went on to win 6-1 and 6-3 against Cortney Blackburn from Byng. She would lose 6-1 and 6-2, knocking her out of contention or a possible fifth place win.
In #2 doubles, Bailey Davis and Hailey Glass also lost their opening match to Crossings Christian but came back to win over Harrah 6-4 and 6-3. They were defeated by Grove’s Downing and Elder 6-0 and 6-2.