GLADEWATER – Once again, when it comes to tennis……..don’t play against Bullard’s Christopher or Cassaundra Braaten, if you want to win, anyhow.

The brother-sister raqueteers both won their respective singles divisions for Bullard, at the District 17-3A tennis tournament, held at the Gladewater High School courts.

In boys singles, Christopher beat Spencer Palmer from Gladewater 6-0, 6-0, and Taylor LaJoie from Spring Hill 6-1,6-0, to earn the finals spot.

Braaten then made easy work of Elliott Deese from Spring Hill, in the finals 4-6, 6- 3, 6-1.

With the win, Braaten will be headed to the regional tournament for his third consecutive year. In the last two regional attempts, Braaten placed third in regionals.

Also, in boys singles, Stephen Head placed fourth, just missing out on a medal.

Above, left, the boys doubles tandem of Jeremey Rhodes and Zack Wingate had a tough match with Gladewater in the semi-finals and took third-place in the tournament. Top left, Hunter Wages returns a ball from the backline as his mixed doubles partner, Ashley Kotzur sets up for a return. The Panthers, under the direction of first-year head coach, Tanya Bryant, advance to regionals. The girls division was not even close, as Braaten shut out the competition.

Cassaundra first beat Lisa White from Spring Hill, 6-0, 6-0, then shutout Lindsey Sullivan from Gilmer, 6-0,6-0.

Continuing suit, Braaten polished off Kadi Huff from Gladewater, 6-0,6-0 in the final. Casaundra did not lose a game in the district tournament, and only one match the entire season. Her title earns her a second trip to regionals.

Another highlight to the day, was the junior varsity singles play of Ross Skirlock, placing third.

CASSAUNDRA BRAATEN DISTRICT GIRLS SINGLES CHAMPION Skirlock defeated Adam Lattir from Spring Hill, 8-0, then lost to Victor Rodriguez 8-6, before a recovery for third. Skirlock beat Dakota Dawson from Chapel Hill, 8-6 for the third place medal.

”The overall team played really hard, but just came up a little short,” said first year head tennis coach, Tanya Bryant. “We definitely had some other chances to get some kids to regionals, but it just didn’t work out this year.

“We have a really young team, so I certainly look forward to the upcoming year,” the coach said in closing.
CHRISTOPHER BRAATEN DISTRICT BOYS SINGLES CHAMPION