By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High tennis standouts Haley Carpenter and Adisyn Caryl experienced success in their first year as doubles partners last season, including an appearance in the Class 6A state tournament.
But Carpenter and Caryl have stepped up their game this fall, including the No. 1 doubles championship in Wednesday's Topeka Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center as the Trojans captured the team title by a 30-29 margin over Olathe East.
Topeka High No. 1 doubles players Adisyn Caryl (left) and Haley Carpenter celebrate a point in Wednesday's Topeka Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Carpenter and Caryl went a perfect 4-0 in Wednesday's tournament, including a 6-2, 7-5 decision over Olathe East in the doubles championship match to improve to 13-1 on the season.
"They're much more in sync with each other because they just played half a year together last year,'' Topeka High coach Duane Pomeroy said. "Adisyn has been our top player, but she likes doubles over singles, and Haley is the one that's really improved from last year to this year so she's on par with Adisyn and when one is struggling most of the time the other one picks them up.''
Topeka High tennis player Adisyn Caryl returns a shot during Wednesday's Topeka Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka High's Haley Carpenter makes a returning during Wednesday's Topeka Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Caryl agreed with her coach that this fall is going very well for the Trojan doubles team.
"This year we started off and just did really well and every single tournament or quad we just keep getting better and better,'' Caryl said.
"It's a lot better this year,'' Carpenter agreed. "We know what (other teams) are going to do and we can trust each other a lot more this year so that's really nice.''
After taking a decisive win in the first set against Olathe East in Wednesday's championship matc, Topeka High fell behind in the second set before rallying for the win.
"I think for us it was all about determination,'' Caryl said.
Carpenter agreed.
"We were really tired and we just had a lot of trouble when they were serving and kind of got down, but it was OK because we got back on track and still won,'' she said.
Topeka High also got a championship from McCall Beall, who claimed the No. 2 singles crown with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lawrence, while the No. 2 doubles team of Aleshia Alvarez and Keira Trupp finished second and No. 1 singles player Mary Dietrick finished fourth.
Beall improved to 11-0 in No. 2 singles.
"It's been real good,'' Pomeroy said. "We competed. And to get two championships and pull out the team title is great.''
Shawnee Heights' Laura Elkoubysi finished third in No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-0 win over High's Dietrick while the fourth-place T-Birds got a fourth-place finish in No. 2 doubles from Hannah Sixkiller and Addyson Bryant and fifths in No. 2 singles from Victoria Soto and No. 2 doubles from Shelby Elskamp and Ariah Durkes.
Topeka West's Anna Newcome finished fifth in No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Junction City's Abby Ratts.
TOPEKA INVITATIONAL TENNIS
Team scores
Topeka High 30, Olathe East 29, Lawrence 26, Shawnee Heights 19, Junction City 19, Topeka West 12, Wichita Southeast 8, Highland Park 5.
Singles
No. 1 -- Championship: Emily Brandt, Lawrence, def. Abbie Linn, Olathe East, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Third: Laura Elkoubysi, Shawnee Heights, def. Mary Dietrick, Topeka High, 6-2, 6-0. Fifth: Anna Newcome, Topeka West, def. Abby Ratts, Junction City, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 2 -- Championship: McCall Beall, Topeka High, def. Channing Saint Onge, Lawrence, 6-2, 6-4. Third: Tori Prettejohn, Olathe East, def. Rachel Cho, Junction City, 7-5, 4-6, 10-4. Fifth: Victoria Soto, Shawnee Heights, def. Debbie Alvarado, Wichita Southeast, 6-3, 7-5.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Championship: Haley Carpenter/Adisyn Caryl, Topeka High, def. Annie Kapple/Hayes Fitzgerald, Olathe East, 6-2, 7-5. Third: Katie Logan/Abbie Marsh, Lawrence, def. Stephanie Stanislow/Avery Jackson, Junction City, 6-3, 6-2. Fifth: Shelby Elskamp/Ariah Durkes, Shawnee Heights, def. MaKayla Baxter/Lorena Veneg, Topeka West, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7.
No. 2 -- Championship: Ally Kapple/Hensley Hlasney, Olathe East, def. Aleshia Alvarez/Keira Trupp, Topeka High, 6-2, 6-3. Third: Hannah Ratts/Grace Harris, Junction City, def. Hannah Sixkiller/Addyson Bryant, Shawnee Heights, 6-4, 6-0. Fifth: Alexa Nauholz/Harper Jay, Lawrence, def. Karlee Gilbreath/Lily Ottman, Topeka West, 6-4, 6-3.
