Wildcat pair still the team to beat

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By TODD HVEEM
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Cy Woods' doubles team of Kourtney Howell-Gus Underwood might be the only sure thing" during the District 15-5A tennis tournament on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Cy Woods High School.
The dynamic duo won the District 15-5A and Region II title last year before falling just short of a state championship.
They have to be the overwhelming favorites, but Langham Creek has a good mixed doubles team, too,'' said Cy Falls head coach Lee Joiner. But I think the Cy Woods team has a shot to win state this year.''
The top two doubles teams and boys and girls singles players will advance to the Region II-5A tournament on April 20-21 in Waco.
The boys competition and mixed doubles will be played on Tuesday, the girls competition on Wednesday and finals and playbacks on Thursday.
There are quite a few teams in district who could easily beat one another (this year),'' Joiner said. I think there are going to be some very good matches in all of the draws.''
Joiner said Cy Falls' best shot to advance should come from the boys' doubles teams of Yoshi Murakami-Shaan Patel and Blake Bunger-Zach Salinas.
Yoshi and Shaan are seeded No. 1 in the tournament,'' Joiner said. I think one of those two teams should get out. But there are a lot of teams right around the same level.''
Cy Falls also returns two girls doubles teams that finished first and third at the district tournament a year ago.
The team of Amanda Barrington-Taylor Lynch is favored to repeat as girls' doubles champions, while Amanda King-Kerry O'Leary are back after finishing third a year ago.
We are hoping to get one or maybe even both of them out (to regionals),'' Joiner said.
Cy Woods freshman James Fojtasek is the top seed in boys singles, while Langham Creek's Steven McMullen is seeeded No. 2.
Cy Falls' Connor White, who finished fourth at district a year ago, is seeded No. 4.
In girls' singles, Jersey Village's Mary Chu and Langham Creek's Anna Silkwood are expected to earn the two spots to regionals.
Those two girls are definitely the leaders,'' Joiner said. But I think there are several players with an outside shot.''