Highschool tennis players travelled to the Tri-Cities this Memorial Day weekend to compete in the Boys and Girls WIAA High School 4A State Championships. Taking on the top doubles pairs from across the state, sisters from Tacoma’s Bellarmine Prep reigned supreme in the tournament. Lucia Moravek, senior, and her sister Anya Moravek, sophomore, blazed through the two days of matches without losing a set and dropping only 9 games to their competition the entire weekend. Playing on the stadium court before a packed house in Kennewick’s Pacific Clinic Tennis pavilion, the Moravek girls claimed the gold medal by defeating the top doubles pair from Camas HS (6-0, 6-3). 

Along with Moraveks’ contribution, Bellarmine Lions girls scored additional team points in both doubles and singles, finishing 3rrd in team competition. After losing to Newport High School in the quarterfinals, Bellamine’s girls #2 doubles team (Charlotte Savage and Kendyl McCarthy) won their next two, closing out their tournament with a victory over a pair from Jackson HS to secure 3rdh place. Chloe Lee added to the team points total with a match win in the girls singles bracket. 

 

In the boy’s division, another Bellarmine pair battled their way to the State Championship’s final center court stage. Herky Briggs, sophomore, and Jacob Tan, senior, came back from a set down to edge past the hometown favorite pair from Kamiakin HS to advance from the quarterfinals. The semi-finals matched the Bellarmine team against a familiar duo from Sumner HS (E. Nordling and B. Holland). The pairs had played during the regular season twice previously 1-1 results. With windy conditions, an enthusiastic crowd, and a high-intensity contest, Briggs/Tan proved too much for the Spartan team this time, winning (7-6, 6-4). The Bellarmine pair took home the tournament’s 2nd place medal, losing to Camas HS in the doubles final. Senior Adrian Aflatooni also completed as a singles player, helping the Bellarmine boys finish 5th in state standings.