Sprinker Tennis Center featured excellent efforts by Federal Way School District high school athletes at the Class 4A West Central District tennis tournament on Wednesday, May 19.

"We're doing very well," Thomas Jefferson head coach and tournament director Andrew Buchan said. "My players are working hard and our district just has tough players all around."

Federal Way athletes showed their greatest congregation in girls singles where defending state champion Meghan Cassens of Decatur easily stroked past Macy Johansen of Emerald Ridge, 6-0, 6-1, in the round of 16 before dynamiting Meesha Sundarum of Bellarmine Prep, 6-0, 6-0, to reach the semifinals and gain a state berth.

"I just focused," she said. "It's just slow (due to the rain forcing long waits between matches in indoor play intermixed with outside court action as the inclement weather would allow)."

Thomas Jefferson senior Averi Kitsch rallied to knock off Alli Bautista of Olympia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, to gain the quarterfinal round. Sandy Dennett of Auburn later sent Kitsch into the consolation round with a 6-0, 6-0, defeat of the Raider player.

Three other Federal Way area tennis players remained alive in consolation action.

Gator senior Sarah Lin handled Ashley Lucas of Tahoma, 6-1, in the first set of first round play, but had to fight off a strong challenge in the second set to secure a 6-4 win and advance to the quarterfinals.

In the quarterinals, Corrinne Wurden of Central Kitsap had the upper hand all the way in a 6-0, 6-1, defeat of Lin.

Katelyn Orchard of Olympia harvested a 6-1, 6-1, first round win against Haley Ward of Federal Way, but the Eagle athlete stayed in the hunt by ousting Ashley Yates of Bellarmine Prep from the tournament, 6-4, 6-4, to earn a shot at Lin in the consolation quarterfinals.

Playing in her first district tournament, Breanna Ziccarelli regained momentum after a first round loss. Sundarum of Bellarmine Prep, captured a 6-0, 6-4, victory against the Raider junior, but Ziccarelli posted a rugged, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, triumph against Johansen of Emerald Ridge to stay in the tournament.

"It was exciting to play against and in front of all the top players," she expressed.

Doubles play featured Jefferson veterans Mackenzie Qualls and Caroline Min regaining their punch to win against Katelynn Brown and Emily Sullivan of Puyallup, 7-5, 6-1.

Other area pairs were still playing in consolation round action.

Lauren Lang and Mina Park of Federal Way dropped a 6-3, 6-1, match to Kilmer and Sui of Olympia to go to the consolation round. Manthou and Nagai of Kentwood dropped Jen Kanesta and Christina Sessoms of Decatur in the first round, 6-2, 6-0.

The boys returned to the courts after completing SPSL tournament action in the fall.

Joe Lee of Thomas Jefferson and Joseph de la Cruz of Todd Beamer each won first round matches. Lee easily stroked by Greg Medlock of Emerald Ridge, 6-0, 6-1, while the Titan ace tore up Nick Noronha of Bellarmine Prep, 6-2, 6-0. John Stormans of Olympia outfought de la Cruz, 6-0, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.

John Stormans of Olympia dropped Branden Muraki of Jefferson, 6-1, 6-2, and SPSL No. 1 seed Max Manthou of Kentwood sliced up James Lee of Jefferson, 6-0, 6-0. Noronha of Bellarmine Prep later eliminated Muraki, 7-6 (11-9), 2-6, 7-5. James Lee then fell to Hunter Wood of Olympia, 6-1, 6-1.

The Rosa brothers, Makoa and Kainoa, of Thomas Jefferson defeated Cole Jeter and Carson of Auburn, 6-1, 6-3, in the first round before qualifying for state in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, struggle against Keenan Dolan and Jame Lee of Bellarmine Prep.

"Making state was our goal," stated Kainoa. "The match was back-and-forth against a very good team. We've played so long together we know what we bring to the table. Today for me, it was my serve."

For Makoa, it was very clear.

"We concentrated and did what we needed to do," he said.

Another TJ duo also saw action on Wednesday.

Kyle Creek and Brandyn Gomez edged out Reuben Talukdar and Alexei Calambokidis of Olympia, 6-4, 6-3, but Vineeth Omkaram and Garrett Ballou of Kentridge sent the Raiders into the consolation bracket, 6-2, 6-3.

Todd Beamer's doubles team opened up on Wednesday with Chase Friedrich and Sean O'Bryan taking the measure of Jeff Lesch and Andrew McEniry from Bellarmine Prep, 6-3, 6-2, but then Michael and Brian Pinkard of Puyallup dropped the twosome, 6-1, 7-5.