The San Saba Tennis Team had three players playing in the State Tennis Tournament in Austin on May 10-11. Tayler Hibler playing in Girls Singles was joined by Joannah Crosby and Tarah Crosby in Girls Doubles.

Tayler Hibler played Emily Lobnitz from Sunnyvale in the Quarterfinals and lost a tough match 6-1, 6-2. Tayler, a senior, finished her high school career with three state tournament appearances, finishing in third place, second place, and quarterfinalist. Tayler qualified for regionals all four years in high school and won regionals three times. Tayler also won the district title three times and came in second once, her freshman year.

Joannah Crosby and Tarah Crosby qualified for state in girls doubles. Joannah and Tarah won district and came in second at regionals to earn a spot at the state tournament. Joannah and Tarah drew a tough quarterfinals match in seniors Ashee Brunson and Kasey Button from Florence who were making their second appearance at the state tournament. The Crosbys’ played very well and won the first set 6 to 1. Brunson and Button’s, experience, came through in second and third set and defeated the Crosbys’ 6-2, 6-2. The Florence team went on and won the stated doubles championship. Joannah and Tarah had an excellent year. Joannah, a freshman, and Tarah, a junior, played doubles together for the first time this year and they really came together and played really well for their first year together.

On a final note, I would like to mention our seniors who have been playing together since the 7th grade. We didn’t have very many seniors this year but we had a lot of quality. We had two senior girls in Tayler Hibler and Nicole Sears. I already mentioned Tayler’s accomplishments above. Nicole was a three time district champion in doubles, qualified for regionals three times and came in 4th place in girls doubles her freshman years and third place her senior year in mixed doubles playing with Chase Key at the regional tournament. Nicole may have won district in doubles four years but she was unable to play her sophomore year due to a knee injury. On the boys side we also had two seniors in Chase Key and Reid Casco. Chase Key came in second at district in doubles his sophomore year and won district in doubles his junior and senior year. Chase qualified for regionals three years in doubles and coming in third place this year in mixed doubles. Reid Casco qualified for regionals his senior year in mixed doubles playing with Lauren Dawson, a sophomore. Reid came within one point of qualifying for regionals his junior year in mixed doubles.

I want to thank these four players for all their hard work, sacrifice, and time, and all the help they have been to me these past six years. They have truly kept the tradition of San Saba Tennis going. They also helped the team go to the state team tennis tournament all four years they were in high school and extended the streak of 14 straight years of qualifying for the state team tennis tournament. They all have a great future in front of them.