Tennis: Bobcats way out front

Later this season, at the District 17-5A Tennis Tournament, it could be Cy-Fair vs. Cy-Fair for the girls doubles championship.

"We feel like there's a good chance our teams will be in the district finals against each other," Cy-Fair coach Sylvia McClure said. "Both teams played together in the fall during team tennis, and they continue to play strong tennis in the individual spring season."

The Cy-Fair girls duos of senior Allyson Barnett and junior Gabby Johnson, and sophomores Erika Holum and Emily Garrett, would love to finish 1-2 in district, and possibly do it all over again at regionals, but it's not automatic.

When it comes to 17-5A girls tennis, Cy Ranch comes up quite often because of standouts like Amy Lundquist, Courtney McWilliams and others, and those players are among the favorites in girls singles, if that's where they end up competing during the April 5-7 district tournament at Cy Woods.

Jersey Village senior Natalie Chu is another one of 17-5A's best in girls singles, and when it comes to boys singles, that's where it's really getting crowded.

Cy Ridge's Anug Singh is at the top of the list according to most district coaches, and Langham Creek junior Steven McMullen and sophomore Lucas Bombanatti also come up often in conversations.

"It looks like they'll be playing boys singles," Langham Creek Terry Moran said. "They're both good players and we look for them to do well."

Moran and many coaches are looking at different scenarios in doubles and singles at this time of the season, and trying to determine what will work best at district, and hopefully beyond.

The Cy-Fair ISD hosts a 32-team tournament on Wednesday, March 9, with the 10 Cy-Fair ISD schools splitting into two divisions and competing against 11 other teams (16 in each pod).

"We'll know a lot more heading into and after the tournament," Moran said. "It's one of our last big events before spring break and district."

Cy-Fair freshmen Will Drumwright and Benson Errington could turn out to be a factor in 17-5A boys singles, according to Cy-Fair's McClure, and she describes the boys doubles team of senior Leon Romero and sophomore Ben Skipworth, and the mixed tandem of juniors Conner Sexton and Kelsey Curcio, as district dark horses.

Cy Creek's Fischer brothers — junior J.T. and sophomore Taylor - will join the scramble in boys singles, according to their coach, Steve White, and Cy Falls coach Lee Joiner has good feelings about juniors Amanda Barrington and Connor White in mixed, and senior Shaan Patel and junior Zach Salinas in boys doubles.

Barrington missed team tennis in the fall due to an injury.

Cy Woods coach Tim Calhoun continues to experiment with seniors Rick Newton and Ben Groff, and juniors Ryan Elwood and Brett Richter, in singles and doubles.

He's also looked at junior Lisi Becker, the team's most experienced girl, with Richter in mixed, and juniors Cameron Cooper and Josh Dragna in boys doubles.

"We're still trying to figure out where everyone is going to play," Calhoun said, "but that's really it's all about right now."

The 17-5A tournament at Cy Woods features boys play and mixed doubles on April 5, girls play on April 6, and finals and playbacks on April 7 (all 7:30 a.m. starts).

The Cy-Fair ISD tournament on Wednesday, March 9, will be played at all Cy-Fair ISD high schools except the Cy-Fair courts which are under construction.