For someone who’s been there before and was considered the overwhelming favorite going into the tournament, Skyview senior Sammi Hampton said she was nervous.
Nerves or not, Hampton captured her fourth 4A district title on Saturday, defeating Camas’ Esther Kwon 6-0, 6-1 at Vancouver Tennis Center.
“Actually I was really nervous,” Hampton said of the final. “Not before hand, but once I was on the court I started shaking. Not that I felt any pressure, but because I wanted it really bad.”
Hampton will now go for a fourth 4A state singles title — something only one other 4A girls player has done and only three girls across all classifications have accomplished in Washington.
First Hampton had district to focus on.
She beat Camas’ Sam Merrill in the semifinal 6-0, 6-0 Saturday morning in about 30 minutes.
Kwon, who won’t be going to state due to having qualified for an academic state event the same time at the tennis, needed about an hour and 45 minutes to get past Mountain View’s Amila Gogalija 6-3, 7-5 in her semifinal. The final was played no long after.
“I was tired, but it was a good mental challenger,” Kwon said of her final. “It’s always fun to play (Hampton).”
Kwon did make Hampton work as the match lasted about 50 minutes.
“Esther played really well,” Hampton said. “My serving was really good today and I hit my spots.”
Gogalija will be going to state in place of Kwon, having won the third-place match 6-0, 6-3 over Skyview’s Vanessa Vincent.
Also with a chance to defend their state title, Camas’ doubles team of Jenn Lewis and Hannah Gianan won the district title 6-2, 6-2 over Union’s Sydney Wallace and Mckenzie Schreiner.
Lewis and Gianan played a lot of singles in league before gearing up for the district tournament.
“We were rusty at first, but with practice it got easier,” Gianan said.
“We aren’t afraid to tell each other what is wrong,” Lewis said.
Both players seemed to come up with the drop shot, angle or overhead they needed at just the right time all day.
Wallace, who was runner-up in doubles at state last year, and Schreiner, a freshman, officially earned a berth to state once the elimination bracket played out. Their 6-3, 6-2 semifinal win over Skyview’s Macy Ballew and Katherine Metz turned out to be the clincher for the Union pair.
Skyview won its 10th consecutive district team title.
Next up is the state tournament on Friday and Saturday at Richland.
3A bi-district
Prairie senior Akari Baba defended her bi-district singles title, defeating Misa Takami of Hazen 6-4, 6-2 in the final at Sprinker Rec Center in Tacoma.
In the semifinal round, Baba defeated Ainsley Winterrowd of Mount Tahoma 6-2, 6-2.
Baba will be making her fourth trip to the state tournament. She placed third last year in singles, and was the 2012 doubles champion with her sister Shiori.
The 3A state tournament is Friday and Saturday at Kennewick.
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