The varsity doubles team competed in regionals on April 17 and 18 where they placed third and advanced to state. The first round of state took place in San Antonio on May 7 and 8. The tennis doubles partners, sophomore Avery Buchanan and junior Phoebe Woolridge are the first to advance to state since 1902.

“It is not an easy task to make it to the level they did,” tennis coach Monica Brinkman said. “The hardest part is simply getting through our district, because we have the toughest district in the state. Playing at the level they play surely helps them get tougher day in and day out.”

According to Brinkman, Woolridge has always been a top singles player but she now considers her as one of the top doubles players.

“It just feels like all of my hard work is finally coming to the spot where I wanted to be,” Woolridge said. “I wanted to get to state for so long. It’s just exciting to see all of our hard work.”

Buchanan has been playing tennis since she was five-years-old while Woolridge has been playing since she was eight.

“I play tennis every single day, and I have since I was young,” Buchanan said. “It also takes a lot of practice, early mornings, late nights and always putting in the extra effort, even if it’s not just in tennis, like going for runs or going to the gym.”

When Buchanan made it on varsity her freshman year, she and Woolridge started playing together that fall and haven’t stopped since. 

“It’s such a big accomplishment,” Woolridge said. “It is also such a good experience to be able to prove that we could get there and be able to do it with my best friends.”