The Wylie Varsity Tennis Team won the UIL Class 4A State Team Tennis Championship in early November, easily defeating Fredericksburg in a shutout to cap off a dominant season.
The win gives Wylie back-to-back state championships, and championships in 14 of the last 16 years. The UIL only began hosting a tournament for Class 4A four years ago, and Wylie has appeared in all four, winning three of them. Prior to that, Wylie competed in the Texas Tennis Coaches Association State Tournament, where they won 11 of the groups final 12 state championships for what was then Class 3A.
Three years ago, Wylie lost to Fredericksburg in the state finals ending a streak of eight consecutive titles, which made beating Fredericksburg this year even sweeter. The fact that Wylie won 10-0 and the finals match was never even close made the victory sweeter still.
The Bulldogs weren’t just dominant at state. The team was dominant all season long, losing only one game in their playoff run. Not only did they shutout Fredericksburg in the finals, but they shutout Robinson in the semifinals and Midlothian Heritage in the Regional Finals. In fact, Wylie only lost one line in 11 playoff matches, and that was in the regional semifinals to Pampa, who they beat 10-1. They Bulldogs also had shutouts against Burkburnett, Alvarado and Vernon in the playoffs.
“It’s so exciting. This is everything we’ve worked for,” said senior Kaitlyn Hathorn. “It’s the best feeling.”
She said Wylie really wanted to beat Fredericksburg after losing to them two years ago.
“That hurt, losing the championship two years ago, and getting it back last year was great,” she said. “But we didn’t get to play Fredericksburg last year, so beating them this year was sweet.”
Wylie finished the season 26-1. Its lone loss of the season was a narrow 7-10 loss to 6A Amarillo Tascosa.
Lane Adkins was new to the team this year and won his first state championship.
“It felt great,” he said. “I never experienced anything like it.”
The Wylie varsity team includes seniors Payton Amonett, Kaitlyn Hathorn, Andrea McMillan, Jordan McNair and Shruti Patel; juniors Lane Adkins, Madison Andrews, Cason Byington, Cole Edwards, Zane McCurley, Hailey Parker and Aric Richardson; sophomores, Carson Cole, Analeah Elias, Reid Heuerman, Courtney Holmes and Chance Rains; and freshmen Leighton Alford, Currian Cole, and Trinity Miller.
The team is coached by Brent Abilez and Rose Bristow.
Congratulations to Wylie Tennis on winning another state championship.