High school girls tennis: Kennett celebrates good times with Senior Night win

Celebrate good times.

The Kennett High School girls tennis team recognized seniors Christi Tejeda and Maddi Johnson after completion of Monday’s match versus Dexter at The Wheatley Courts.

Tejeda and Johnson both have made a lasting impact on the Indians’ program as four-year performers.

Earlier this season, Johnson earned a come-from-behind victory during a No. 6 singles match versus Jackson High’s Tessa Quade. She won the final three games of the match.

“One thing Maddi is good at is cheering up (others),” Kennett head coach Janet Hilburn said in a video documented on the Delta Dunklin Democrat Facebook page.

Johnson, playing in the No. 1 junior varsity singles slot, also earned a 7-5 victory over Dexter’s Avery Medley.

Tejeda, since returning home from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, has been a force.

Last Friday at the Southeast Missouri Conference Tournament in Cape Girardeau, unseeded Tejeda took the garland as singles champion. She also was the Kennett Invitational singles title winner on Saturday, Sept. 16.

“All in all, these have been two great seniors,” Hilburn said. “We are going to miss them both a lot next year. They’ve both added a lot to our team in different ways.”

Tejeda continued her mastery of opponents here, defeating Sophia James 8-1 at No. 3 varsity singles.

She also teamed up with freshman Olivia Rebstock at No. 2 doubles for an 8-2 victory over Febe Worley and Medley.

Claire Bean (representing Holcomb) and Handley McAtee also illustrated dominance yet again. Bean blanked Kate Churchill while McAtee bageled Emerson Dorton at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively.

Jady Quinn, Emory Kamper and Rebstock made it a clean sweep of both the singles and doubles matches, and the most points the Indians surrendered in any given match was three.

Lydia Teeter, Laney Teeter, Gabby Neal, Hannah Patel and Graysen Coffer all were victorious in junior varsity singles matches. Shirley Swafford also helped the Indians with a JV doubles win.

Kennett wrapped up the regular season Wednesday with a match versus Poplar Bluff.

Postseason play

The Missouri State High School Activities Association playoffs begin today with the individual district tournament.

Singles and doubles matches will be conducted at The Wheatley Courts in Kennett.

Athletic director James Vaughan reported the event will begin with a coaches meeting at 9 a.m.

Participating teams are Kennett, Saxony Lutheran, Dexter, Charleston and Caruthersville.

The Class 1 District 1 team tournament commences Monday, Oct. 2.