Altoona High School hosted 25 high school tennis teams for the District VI Doubles Tournament at the Leopold Center on Thursday.
Tyrone made it to the Elite Eight before falling to the number one seeded team from Bishop Guilfoyle, Sam Fulchiero and Abby Ball (6-2, 6-0)
Hilary McNelis and Missy Stager, the Lady Eagles number one team, reached the third round by besting Rachel Timpe and Emily allison from Homer Center (6-0, 6-0) and Kayla Singer and Erin Koscienksi from Greater Johnstown High School (7-6, 6-0). Emily Fitzgerald and Beth nelson, the Eagles number two team, played outstanding tennis while wining against Bethany Vignera and Kathleen Clark from Bishop McCort. They lost to the fifth-seeded team from Richland High School 6-4, 6-2.
“At the beginning of the season, I predicted that our very tough MAC schedule would help us at the Districts, and that prediction came true,” said Tyrone tennis coach Charles Fitzgerald. “Hilary and Missy, Emily and Beth were more than equal to the task of playing the beter players from District VI. Hilary and Missy were down 4-1 against Johnstown and came back to win a tie-breaker. Both doubles teams played their very best today.”
It should be pointed out that two MAC teams (Bishop Guilfoyle and Huntingdon) were the number one and number seeds for the tournament.
Lady Eagle tennis players ending their season included” Hilary McNelis, missy tager, Emily Fitzgerald, Beth Nelson, Becky Swann, Cynda Ormsby, Kaylee Fink, Lada benakovic and Kendra Confer. Beth Nelson and Emily Fitzgerald were four-year players for coach Fitzgerald who as seniors, played their final matches for the Lady Eagles.
“I will miss both Emily and Beth,” said coach Fitzgerald. “They were consistent and committed team players.”
