High school girls tennis: Doublemint as Bean, McAtee are champs again

SPRINGFIELD — Undeniable chemistry.

That’s what was on display during the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 1 state individual girls tennis tournament this past Friday and Saturday at Cooper Tennis Complex.

Kennett’s premium doubles team composed of Handley McAtee and Claire Bean (Holcomb) surrendered just seven games en route to seizing their second successive state title.

Claire Bean (left) and Handley McAtee show off their medals and bracket after winning the Class 1 doubles championship for the second straight year.(Photo by Laurie McAtee, special to the Democrat)

“We get along so well on and off the court,” said McAtee in a telephone interview on Sunday evening. “We’re friends, and that plays a big role in how we compete against other schools. We know how to work together and handle pressure.”

Bean concurred with such sentiments.

“She’s a great partner,” said Bean, relating to a story during the championship match versus Anna Gaffney and Sophia Swingle from St. Michael the Archangel, a Catholic school located in the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit.

Kennett�s Christi Tejeda (right) talks it over with head coach Janet Hilburn (shown in tie-dye head cover) during a break in singles play in this photo dated Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (Photo by Laurie McAtee, special to the Democrat)

Bean was nursing an unspecified injury late during the second set, but she turned back to Handley and the two shared a tender exchange.

“She looked at me and said, ‘We got this,’” Bean said. “She helped me, and her backhand was amazing (during the final points). I am so grateful for another season with her as my partner.”

In the end, Bean and McAtee defeated Gaffney and Swingle by scores of 6-0, 6-4.

Both girls have different skills that make them strong tennis players.

McAtee’s goal is to keep rallies going, and play consistently at the net. Bean is a talented baseline player with an array of dazzling and accurate ground strokes.

Together, they have been unstoppable — and the results speak for themselves — with a 36-0 record in 2023.

Bean and McAtee opened with a first-round 6-1, 6-0 victory over Harrisonville’s Taylor Jennings and Lillian Hopson, followed by a 6-2, 6-0 conquest over Molly Gottman and Laura Noland from Palmyra.

They were through to the semifinals, when Bean and McAtee doled out a double bagel to Rylee Washburn and Isabella Garr from Chillicothe (6-0, 6-0).

McAtee said she was motivated to play her best knowing she wouldn’t be competing in the team tournament slated for this Saturday, Oct. 21.

“I knew this was my last go ‘round this season, so I wanted to leave it all on the court,” she said.

Now that the season has climaxed, both girls will go their separate ways.

Bean will continue taking lessons from Alex Rivas at Three Oaks Racquet Club in Jonesboro, Ark. It’s more than likely Claire will resume playing a rigorous United States Tennis Association-sanctioned schedule.

McAtee will play some tennis, but she’ll also gear up for the 2024 softball season. Handley pitches and plays shortstop.

Tejeda’s swansong

The state tournament also served as Christi Tejeda’s swansong in the sport.

“She was the only No. 3 singles player in the state to qualify,” Kennett head coach Janet Hilburn noted, “so that was an accomplishment. She had some tough matches.”

Tejeda opened with a hard-fought, three-set victory over Madeline Burright from Benton (6-3, 2-6, 10-1).

However, Tejeda was in a tough draw, and had to face Emmie Kinder from Ursuline Academy in the quarterfinals. Kinder had beaten Bean during the team tournament on Monday, Oct. 9.

Kinder defeated Tejeda, 6-0, 6-2, and Christi was eliminated from medal contention in a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Lucy Pace from North County. Pace and Tejeda were the state singles qualifiers from the Kennett sectional back on Oct. 7.

Leiloni Payton from Lincoln College Prep eventually secured the singles title with a 6-2, 6-0 conquest over Aanya Singh from Clayton. Kinder settled for the bronze medal.

From a historical perspective, Bean and McAtee are the only state individual champions in Kennett history. However, a few years ago, Hadley Hilburn and Heidi Shetley earned a second-place finish in individual doubles.

GIRLS TENNIS

State Championships

Individual Tournament

At Cooper Tennis Complex,

Springfield

Champions, By Class

Singles

Class 1

Leiloni Payton, Lincoln College Prep

Class 2

Rachel Li, Mary Institute and Country Day School (MICDS)

Class 3

Amber Yin, Lafayette (Wildwood)

Doubles

Class 1

Handley McAtee and Claire Bean, Kennett/Holcomb

Class 2

Yvonne Shannon and Emily Koo, Parkway North

Class 3

Alice Kennedy and Ashley Behan, St. Joseph’s Academy