E-W seniors take fourth at state

Edmonds-Woodway’s Amanda Waldron and Michelle Nelson wrapped up their high school tennis careers on a high note.

The Warrior duo took fourth place in the Class 4A state doubles tournament May 29 in Kennewick. After three trips to state, including last year’s two-and-out disappointment, Waldron and Nelson came home with medals for the first time.

Waldron and Nelson defeated Oak Harbor’s Laurin Rico and Clarissa Abadesco 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth/sixth place match.

Waldron and Nelson had never advanced to the second day of the tournament before last weekend.

“We were so excited,” Waldron said. “We took every match one match as a time and one point at a time.”

“I’m really happy with fourth place,” Nelson said. “I’m just really proud.”

The two Edmonds-Woodway seniors opened the tournament with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Kentwood’s Eliana Spero and Niki Skinner on May 28.

“It gave us a lot of confidence,” Nelson said. “I hit a lot more net shots than I usually do. Amanda did really well with her serves.”

Waldron added that she and Nelson’s prior state experience likely was a factor.

“We weren’t that nervous and I think they were a little nervous,” Waldron said. “We had the advantage of experience, being there three times before. … Everything went our way in that match.”

Waldron and Nelson then dropped a tight quarterfinal match to Mountain View’s Chaeran Kim and Jenna Grill 7-5, 6-3.

“They were a great team,” Waldron said. “We actually thought we played pretty well. We weren’t too upset about it.”

The loss sent the two into a 10 p.m. match against Mead’s Chelsea Motzer and Lani Sherman.

“We had to stay pumped up and win that third match,” Waldron said.

That’s exactly what Waldron and Nelson did, prevailing 6-3, 6-3 to assure themselves of a medal.

On May 29, Waldron and Nelson rallied to beat Lake Washington’s Kelly Watanabe and Jess Lund 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 to advance to the fourth/sixth place match.

“We knew we could do well,” Waldron said. “We had to win that first match.”

After dropping the first set, the two Warriors had to refocus.

“We didn’t want to go out in the third round,” Nelson said. “We dug down real deep and pushed it. It worked out.”

After winning the second set, Waldron and Nelson had the momentum and they kept the pressure on their opponents.

“We continued to be strong at the net,” Waldron said. “We played really solid.”

Waldron and Nelson’s teammates Sophie Roben and Sarah Fine also advanced to state but lost both of their matches. Teammate Jane Hong lost her two matches in the singles tournament. Edmonds-Woodway’s Jake Lagucik and Youngha Kim went 1-2 in the boys doubles tournament.

Jackson’s Mitch Williamson dropped both of his matches in the boys singles tournament. Teammates Robin Choi and David Kim went 1-2 in the boys doubles tournament, while Mountlake Terrace’s Joe Kim and Chris Raunio lost both of their matches.

CLASS 3A TOURNAMENT: Meadowdale junior Josie Dow went 1-2 at the Class 3A state girls singles tournament. Dow dropped her first round match 7-6 (11), 5-7, 1-0 to Capital’s Lauren McCann before rebounding with a 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 victory over Peninsula’s Lisa Kromholtz.

“I felt confident going into the second match,” Dow said. “I knew I played well in the first one. I kind of used that one to focus on the next one.”

Overall, Dow was pleased with how she played.

“I had a great first match,” she said. “I won my second. In the third match, I didn’t play my best.”

Dow lost 7-6 (4), 6-2 to Sedro-Woolley’s Kilee Beuse in a loser-out match.

One of Dow’s goals coming in was not to go two-and-out.

“I was really happy I didn’t do that,” she said. “I have my eyes set on next year.”

In the boys tournament, Meadowdale’s Scott Boemke and Grant Lovell won their first match 7-6 (8), 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals before losing to Seattle Prep’s Andrew LaCava and Jason Bediones 6-1, 6-2. The Meadowdale duo then beat Hazen’s Jack Li and Colin Jones 6-1, 7-5 before falling to Lakes’ Jacob Yannello and Joel Richardson 6-1, 6-2 in a loser-out match.