Carbondale sweeps girls tennis sectional titles


Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

HERRIN — For the second year in a row, the Carbondale Terriers swept the individual, doubles, and team titles at the Herrin 1A Girls Tennis Sectional. This difference this year is that there will be a state tournament. Last year, the season ended after sectionals due to the pandemic.

Carbondale sophomore Skylar Moore beat Marion’s Margaux Bruce 6-4, 6-1 for the singles title. Benton’s Taylor Moore was third, and Waterloo’s Kailey Watler took fourth. All four will advance to state.

The Terriers’ duo of Jessie Harper and Eislee Moore rallied to beat Benton’s Madison Kreiner and Adriana Tonn 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Mt. Carmel’s Camryn Strine and Maleah Armstrong defeated Carmi-White County’s Kaeli Burchfield and Liberty Smith 7-6, 6-3 for third place. All four teams will advance to state.

Carbondale won the team title with 24 points. Benton was second with 17, Mt. Carmel third with 15, and Carmi-White County fourth with 14.

Also in 1A, Flora won the Centralia Sectional with 26 points, edging Olney, who finished with 23. Mascoutah was third with 15 points and Greenville fourth with 14.

Flora’s Lanie Carder defeated teammate Madison Eastin 6-2, 6-3 for the individual title. Mascoutah’s Amelia Hardimon defeated Greenville’s Ellie Schaufelberger 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 for third place. All four will advance to state.

Olney’s Abigail Atwood and Claire Uhl defeated Centralia’s Marie Mann and Ali Kessler 6-2, 6-2 for the doubles title. Olney’s Grayce Burgener and Evie Potter defeated Flora’s Kathryn Jennings and Ava Cammon 6-1, 7-5 for third place. All four teams will advance to state.

The state tournament will run Thursday through Saturday in Buffalo Grove.