By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden, the smallest school in the Centennial League, played giant killer on Monday in Junction City, claiming the league championship by a 36-33 margin over Washburn Rural.
Hayden girls tennis took a bite out of another team championship on Monday in Junction City, following up its city title with the Centennial League championship. [Submitted photo]
Senior Ainzley Zulueta keyed the city-champion Wildcats' championship run with the singles title while Hayden also got a runnerup doubles finish from senior Emily Sheetz and freshman Sophia Wichman and a fifth-place finish from junior Grace Funk.
Senior Ainzley Zulueta, a two-time Class 4A state champion, led Hayden to the Centennial League team title on Monday at Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Zulueta went a perfect 3-0 on the day, including a 6-1, 6-0 win over Topeka High junior Madeline Deters in the championship match.
Washburn Rural seniors Emerie Catlin (left) and Izzy Haggard followed up their city doubles title with the Centennial League championship on Monday in Junction City. [File photo/TSN]
Team runnerup Washburn Rural was led by the senior doubles team of Emerie Catlin and Izzy Haggard, who topped Hayden's Sheetz and Wichman in the doubles final, 6-2, 6-4.
In addition to Deters' runnerup singles finish, Topeka High got a third-place doubles finish from junior Ava Ritter and freshman Hailey Caryl, who took a 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 win over Manhattan in the third-place match. Topeka High finished fifth as a team.
Washburn Rural also got a fifth-place doubles finish from Alizah Chedzoy and Haiden McPike.
Hayden, Washburn Rural and Topeka High will all compete in regional tournaments later this week, vying for state tournament berths.
Topeka High and Washburn Rural will compete in a Class 6A regional on Thursday at Wichita's Riverside Tennis Complex while Hayden will host a 4A regional at Kossover Tennis Complex on Saturday.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE
At Junction City
Team scores
Hayden 36, Washburn Rural 33, Manhattan 27, Junction City 24, Topeka High 23, Emporia 13.
Individual results
Singles
Championship -- Zulueta, Hayden, def. Deters, Topeka High, 6-1, 6-0.
Third -- Micheel, Junction City, def. Schartz, Manhattan, 6-1, 6-0.
Fifth -- Funk, Hayden def. C. Chedzoy, Washburn Rural, 6-4, 7-5.
Doubles
Championship -- Catlin/Haggard, Washburn Rural, def. Sheetz/Wichman, Washburn Rural, 6-2, 6-4.
Third -- Ritter/Caryl, Topeka High, def. Thurston/Hsu, Manhattan, 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.
Fifth -- A. Chedozy/McPike, Washburn Rural, def. Cho/Erichsen, Junction City, 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 10-2.
