The Maize and Garden City girls tennis teams have been battling for tournament crowns all season. The girls have constantly been competing against one another uncertain about who would emerge on top. At the 6A regional at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City, the Lady Eagles stole the team title with 352 points. Only four points lower than the Lady Buffs. Wichita Northwest slid into third as a team with 401 points.
"The regional win is the big thing for us right now," Maize head coach Ben Harlow said. "Today is our first regional championship in a long, long time. Maybe the first ever, so beating a state power like Garden City is really huge. We placed eighth at state last year and our goal is to keep improving each and every year."
Garden City senior Abbey Campbell and junior Abbi Shaddix were among the elite again. Shaddix earend first with a 79 on the course and Campbell shot an 82 for third. Maize's Taelyn Entriken split the Lady Buff duo into second place with an 81. This is not Campbell or Shaddix's first time at state and they are both eager rather than anxious to be on the big stage.
"It means a lot to get the opportunity to go back as a team this year," Shaddix said. "We lost two good players last year that were really effective on our team. We've been working really hard this past week and I just want to go and do good."
All the players on Garden City, Maize and Wichita Northwest's rosters will head to the state tournament at Wichita's Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday Oct. 15. Six other players will also be joining them from the other teams including Dodge City's Alyssa Vazquez and Christina Clark.
"Going to state just means another opportunity to represent my school and my town in a positive way," Clark said.
"It's exciting for me because this is my first year going to state," said Vazquez. "I'm excited for that because I am a junior and next year hopefully maybe I can do it again and my we can go as a whole team."
