Marcos Rameriz is one of 10 Vale tennis players with hopes of a state title starting Friday in Corvallis. (The Enterprise/John L. Braese)
Vale state qualifiers
Tessa McFetridge
Sable Kelso
Allee Ewing/Maycee DeLong
Sam McLaughlin/Japheth Carlson
Dan Wenger/Brody Marvin
Marco Rameriz
Kenneth Silva
Ontario state qualifiers
Emily Jordan/Haliegh Taylor
ONTARIO – Vale senior Tessa McFetridge has an opportunity few high school tennis players have.
Last season, McFetridge teamed with Drew Dobney for a district title, and also a state title. This season, playing in singles, McFetridge claimed a district title Saturday at Treasure Valley Community College. She will advance to the state tournament to seek another state title.
McFetridge has some company on the bus as 10 Vale tennis players qualified for the state tournament while also picking up a district title for the Vikings. The title comes under first-year head coach Paul Spivey.
McFetridge did not have an easy road to state. She had to down teammate Sable Kelso in the finals.
Kelso took the first set, 7-5. McFetridge came back in the second to tie the score with a 6-4 victory. In the third set, McFetridge was on her way to state with a 6-1 win. Both advance to the state championship.
In boys doubles, Sam McLaughlin and Japheth Carlson took a 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 win over Baker’s John Cunningham and Shane Cunningham.
The Vale team almost made a three-champion day. In boys singles, Marco Rameriz fell to Baker’s Zach Schwin, 6-3, 6-1 in the final match. Both may see each other at the state tournament for a rematch.
The Ontario Tigers also send athletes to state. In girls doubles action, Emily Jordan and Haleigh Taylor finished the tournament in third, the lone qualifiers for the Tigers.
The state championship opens Friday in Corvallis.