PAHS netters take on 'big dogs'

STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER PATRICIA STIEVO

Port Aransas High School's tennis players "played up" at a tournament in Beeville Friday, Feb. 16. The Class 1A PAHS team played against students from Class 4A and 5A schools.

Patricio Stievo pushed the envelope, placing second in girls' singles, while Matt Dunton and Clark Smith, teaming up for the first time, took third place in boys' doubles.

Coach Piper Boies said Stievo "played her heart out. I've never seen her play that way. She never gave up - she fought for it."

Stievo was worn out after the final two matches that were long and exhausting, Boies said.

"Matt and Clark are really coming together as a doubles team. I've seen a lot of improvement since they've come together," Boies said.

Another highlight of the competition was parent involvement. Boies said she really appreciated the presence of parents at the tournament.

Stievo opened with a win over Yvonne Flores of Floresville, winning, 8-3. In the next round, she defeated Meghan Bloemer of Skidmore Tynan, 6-2, 6-2. Her only loss came at the hands of Kendra Weber of George West in the championship match, which she lost in a tie-break, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

STAFF PHOTO BY STEPHANIE KENIGSBERG MATT DUNTON, LEFT, CLARK SMITH

The Dunton/Smith duo opened with an 8-1 win over the Beeville team of Taylor/Guerrero. They went on to defeat Orozco/Cobos of San Antonio Burbank, 6-3, 6-1. They were stopped by Ambriz/Garza of Beeville, 1-6, 6-3, 11-9.

Playing for third place against Johnson/Martinez of San Antonio Southwest, they won, 6-2, 6-4.

Also representing PAHS in girls' singles was Abby Kenigsberg who was thrown off course in the first match by Marissa Castillo of San Antonio Burbank, 8-5. Kenigsberg drew a bye in the next round, and went on to lose to Elizabeth Trevert of Floresville.

Trevor Boyle and Kevin Drewry also played singles for PAHS. Boyle was stopped in the first round by Steven Piles of Pleasanton, and Drewry was felled by G. Jaime of San Antonio Southwest. That sent them to the consolation bracket where Drewery defeated Jose Martinez of San Antonio Edison, and went on to play Nico Carillo of Floresville who took that match.

Beeville's Dustin Wren ended Boyle's trek through the consolation bracket.

Megan Park and Meagan Jones represented PAHS in girls' doubles, losing their opening match to Winkel/ Liles of Beeville, 8-1. Moving to the consolation bracket they were stopped by the George West duo of Brown/Harrod.

Pairing up for Port Aransas in boys' doubles, Jon Girdley and Kasey Reed were sent to the consolation bracket by M. Martinez and Johnson of San Antonio Southwest. There, Petrus/ Mengers of Skidmore-Tynan ended their run.

Two mixed doubles teams played for Port Aransas. Meagan Callaway and David Thrasher were stopped by Allison Rentfro and P. Wells from Pleasanton. In the consolation bracket, they drew a bye, then took on Gomez/ Sanchez of San Antonio Lanier, who ended their trek through that bracket.

The other mixed doubles team, Ashley Shores and Eric Hawes, was sent to the consolation bracket by Morva/Mendoza of San Antonio Lanier. They, too, drew a bye, then took on Soria/Garcia of Beeville, who defeated the Port Aransas duo.