Cascade tennis brings home singles and doubles state medals

The Cascade High girls tennis team wrapped up their 2019 campaign on May 25 during the second day of the 1B/2B/1A Tennis State Championships with a third-place team finish. 

“I was very pleased with the finish considering how difficult it is to complete with some of the private schools,” Head Coach Mark Hassinger said. “All the girls played well. They just ran into some girls who have just played more tennis and had the opportunity to play year round.”

Molly Evans and Stella Johnson finished sixth in the girls’ doubles division.

Johnson and Evans defeated Naches Valley’s Johanna Simmons and Makenna Rowe (6-1, 6-0) and Chimacum’s Grace Yaley and Renee Woods (6-1, 7-5). They will face Lakeside’s Gillian Hartman and Kendra Gay in the semifinals.

The Kodiak duo dropped a grueling semifinal match between Lakeside’s Gillian Hartman and Kendra Gay (1-6, 7-5, 7-5). In their final match, Johnson and Evans lost another tough contest, this time to Overlake’s Kamila Meghji and Milhika Srinvasan (3-6, 6-1, 6-2).

“They fought hard but just couldn't finish off their opponents on the second day,” Hassinger said of Evans and Johnson. “It looked like they were going to advance to the finals match after winning the first set in the semi finals 6-1. However, the team from Lakeside made some adjustments that we couldn't counter attack.”

The duo were not the only Cascade girls to bring home a state medal as Molly Wiser finished eighth in the girls’ singles division.

Wiser lost her first match to Seattle Academy’s Sophia Formeca (6-0, 6-0), then bounced back to defeat Naches Valley’s Amy Leonard in three sets (2-6, 7-5, 6-0)

Wiser lost to Deer Park’s Allie Michael in the fifth/eighth-place match (6-1, 6-4).

Hassinger said Wiser’s eighth-place finish at state was a great accomplishment for an athlete with only two years of tennis experience.

Dorothy Espinosa went 1-2 before she was eliminated in the tournament. After defeating Leonard (6-4, 7-4 (7-5)), she lost to Charles Wright Academy’s Zoe Rose (6-0, 6-0). In her final match, Espinosa lost to Freeman’s Sarah Simmerman (6-2, 6-4).

Hassinger noted that Espinosa ran into some tough competition during the tournament.

Both Cascade High tennis teams started slow, but gained momentum throughout the season with the boys finishing at 3-13 overall record while the girls (9-7) climbed to second place in the conference standings.

After the regular season was finished, the Kodiak girls clinched the District 6 championship en route to the state tournament.

Cascade will only lose two seniors on the girls’ side, Espinosa and Evans. The only Kodiak boy graduating is Josh Pedersen. Both divisions can expect several returners on next year’s roster.

“Considering we didn't actually get on a tennis court until all the snow melted, it was incredible to come home with a third place team trophy,” Hassinger said. “We are looking forward to next year however losing Dorothy and Megan will be a big hit for the girls team.”