Time to double up?

When it comes to this time of year the biggest decision isn’t to charge the net or stay back on the baseline.

No, the biggest question facing local tennis players is to play singles or go doubles.

Because there are just two singles spots heading to state from District 1 — a third spot

is available for 4A players but they must win a play-in match against a KingCo opponent — many of the best singles players weigh their chances of making the final compared to pairing with another strong singles player to make a charge in the doubles competition.

“After the last match of the

season I always sit down our players and ask them, ‘Singles or doubles?’ ” said Edmonds-Woodway coach Dan Crist. “I leave it up to them. And if they want to go doubles I ask them who they’d liked to go with.”

For information on today’s district tournaments, scroll to the bottom of this article. Also for updates from Tuesday’s tournament play, follow sports editor Aaron Swaney on Twitter

One of Crist’s players is a good example of this tug-of-war. Younghan Kim played No. 1 singles for most of the season and did well, finishing 12-4. But Kim, who paired up with his brother Youngha Kim last season and went to state, decided he had a better chance to go back to the state tournament with a partner. Kim is teamed up with Dylan Merrill, who played doubles with Eric Bryant for most of the season. Kim and Merrill face Stanwood’s Riley Swenson and Frank Medlicott in today’s 4A District 1 tournament, which begins at 1 p.m. at Stanwood High School.

“(Younghan) went back and forth and the reality is there is very strong competition in singles and he ended up feeling his best chance to make it back to state was playing doubles,” Crist said.

That competition in singles play includes favorites Mitch Williamson, of Jackson, and Gergo Muller, of Stanwood. Both players are seeded No. 1 in the South and North, respectively, and are seemingly on a collision course for a rematch of their Sept. 28 duel.

Kim and Merrill’s opponent today is a good example of the opposite type of doubles team that heads to district: the team that has played all season together. Swenson and Medlicott, who played No. 1 doubles for most of the season, going 6-2, have more history with each other but what kind of advantage does that give them?

Jackson coach David Hutt said he thinks it’s neglible, unless a comparable partner can’t be found. “The singles players that go play doubles are very good players,” said Hutt. “But you’ve got to pair them with someone they feel comfortable with. If you don’t it can be really ugly.”

Hutt said he makes sure his singles players play doubles during practices throughout the season, keeping their overall game — especially their net game — sharp. And Hutt practices what he preaches, breaking apart his season-long doubles team of James Okubo and David Hong to match them with singles players Peter Cung and Ben Mietzner, respectively. Hutt’s motivation for doing it was the fact Cung and Okubo won the district title as a doubles team last season.

“I wanted to give them another opportunity to do it again,” Hutt said.

In the 3A district tournament, Meadowdale’s No. 1 doubles team of Andrew Fijalka and Evan Devries will face a Shorewood team made up of singles player Trevor Cronin and doubles player Isaac Brengelmann.

“I think it can be an advantage because of their match experience together,” said Mavs head coach Mark Schneider. “But they know they’ll need to stay focused and play their game all week. The other doubles teams are going to be ready and we need to be prepared, regardless of their experience together.”4A District 1 tournament

When: Today, 1 p.m.; Wednesday, 3 p.m.

Where: Stanwood High School

First round: Singles—Gergo Muller (Stan) vs. Grant Follis (Jac); Howard Chen (Mon) vs. Patrick Chung (Cas); Corey Coombs (MP) vs. Brandon Bulaclac (EW); Andrew Ivelia (Sno) vs. Mitch Williamson (Jac). Doubles—Mitch Scott-Zach Martinson (Sno) vs. Ben Mietzner-David Hong (Jac); Riley Swenson-Frank Medlicott (Stan) vs. Younghan Kim-Dylan Merrill (EW); Eric Saekow-Jonathan Wolf (Stan) vs. Peter Cung-James Okubo (Jac); Trent Sarver-Tyler Bradford (Arl) vs. Andrew Lee-Dominic Lee (Kam).

State berths: No. 1 and 2 singles and doubles earn automatic berths; No. 3 singles and doubles advance to play-in game against Kingco No. 3 on Saturday.

3A District 1 tournament

When: Today, noon; Wednesday, noon

Where: Mount Vernon High School

First round: Singles—Brian Nguyen (Mead) vs. Juan Ramirez (SC); Jeffrey Levine (MV) vs. Justin Oh (Swd); Anthony Shanander (MV) vs. Dylan Mozlowski (GP); Nick Ekern (Mead) vs. Brandon Soelling (Eve). Doubles—Stuart Milner-John Kim vs. Hunter Nelson-Miles Jamieson (Swd); Calvin Rutherford-Connor Garrison (SW) vs. Patrick Luangrath-Jordan Hill (GP); Nishaant Limaye-Chris Sato (SC) vs. Tanner Hansen-Erik Arntsen (F); Trevor Cronin-Isaac Brengelmann (Swd) vs. Evan Devries-Andrew Fijalka (Mead).

State berths: No. 1 singles and doubles earn automatic berths; No. 2 and 3 singles and doubles play for the final berth regardless of whether or not they have met previously.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Edmonds-Woodway's Alex Plumis wards off Monroe's Cody Duncan during a 3A State second-round game on May 23, 2025 at Mercer Island High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys soccer stuns Monroe with shootout win at State

The No. 11 Warriors won penalties 4-3 after a thrilling 2-2 game.

Stanwood sophomore Olivia Dahl strikes out to end the game, a 5-4 loss to Garfield in the 3A State Softball quarterfinals in Lacey, Washington on May 23, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood softball shocked in 3A state quarterfinal

The top-seed Spartans fall 5-4 to No. 8 Garfield after allowing three runs in the sixth.

The Jackson High School softball team celebrates after defeating Skyline in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament at Columbia Playfields in Richland, Wash. on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Peacocke / Jackson H.S. Athletics)
State prep softball roundup for May 23

Jackson, Snohomish advance to state semifinals.

Prep state tournament results and schedule

Here’s a look at what’s happening this postseason.

Stanwood sophomore Addi Anderson (second from right) and the Stanwood infielders -- sophomore Jemma Lopez, senior Rubi Lopez, junior Taylor Almanza and senior Reagan Ryan -- gather in the circle between at-bats during the Spartans' 3-0 win against Roosevelt in the 3A State Softball Round of 16 in Lacey, Washington on May 23, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood softball reaches first state quarterfinal since 2010

Addi Anderson notches 13 strikeouts in 3-0 win against Roosevelt.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 11-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 11-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

The Jackson High School softball team celebrates after defeating Skyline in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament at Columbia Playfields in Richland, Wash. on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Peacocke / Jackson H.S. Athletics)
Prep softball roundup for Friday, May 23

Jackson, Lake Stevens among first-round winners at state.

Shorewood senior Matthew Bereket (right) lunges in to challenge a kick from Central Kitsap freshman Eli Daniels during the Stormrays' 1-0 win in the 3A Boys Soccer State Round of 16 in Shoreline, Washington on May 22, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer exorcises playoff demons against Central Kitsap

The top-seeded Stormrays overcome two years of upsets to beat Cougars 1-0 in 3A second round.

The Jackson girls golf team poses with the state championship trophy and sign on the 18th green of Eagle's Pride Golf Course after winning the WIAA 4A State Championship in DuPont, Washington on May 21, 2025. Pictured left to right: Coach Jerome Gotz, freshman Karen Shin, sophomore Kayla Kim, senior Paige Swander, senior Lindsay Catli, sophomore Chanyoung Park and junior Christine Oh. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Jackson girls golf wins first state title

The Timberwolves turn one-shot lead on back nine into 14-stroke victory for 4A crown.

Kamiak’s Tristan Kim putts during the 4A District 1 Boys Golf Championship at Legion Memorial Golf Course on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Kamiak Flip’ powers Knights boys golf to top-five state finish

Kamiak leverages a strong second round to win hardware as Tristen Kim finishes third individually.

Seahawks rookie safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practices at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on May 20, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
Nick Emmanwori is embracing Kam Chancellor comparisons

Will the Seahawks use him the same way?

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a game-tying basket against the New York Knicks as time expires in the fourth quarter in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Al Bello / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Tyrese Haliburton channels Reggie Miller, Pacers stun Knicks

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton put both of his… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.