District 1-2A tennis: Bay boys, Arnold girls have banner days

PENSACOLA — Bay qualified for state at boys singles and doubles, and the Tornadoes’ boys and Arnold’s girls each advanced to region as a team as the District 1-2A tennis tournament concluded Thursday at the University of West Florida.

Jason Moody qualified to the Class 2A state meet at No. 1 singles with a 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 win over Clay Pfeifler of Gulf Breeze. He then teamed with Tyler Barr at No. 1 doubles to oust Johnathan Gager and Will Nield of Arnold en route to topping Gus Anastupolou and Pfeifler of Gulf Breeze 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to win that title.

Bay totaled 12 points as runner-up to champion Gulf Breeze which had 18. Pensacola had 9, Arnold 2 and Rutherford 0.

Host Gulf Breeze also won the girls crown with 20 points followed by Arnold with 14, Pensacola with 5, Bay 4 and Rutherford and West Florida each had 3.

Bay entered play on Thursday tied with Pensacola’s boys for second place, which determined the regional team entrant in addition to champion Gulf Breeze. Bay will play at 2-2A champion Rickards on Tuesday in a region semifinal.

Arnold’s girls will have a rematch from last year with 2-2A girls champion Suwannee on Tuesday in Live Oak.

Bay coach Kay Kovaleski said one of the keys to the Tornadoes advancing as a team was Dylan McCormick’s 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over James Martin of Gulf Breeze at No. 4 singles. Individual champions were crowned at Nos. 1-5 singles and 1-2 doubles in both divisions, but only the No. 1s qualified for state.

“Number four singles winning because we lost at number two singles,” Kovaleski said. “That gave PHS still a chance, but then when Dylan won all we had to do was win one of our semifinals in doubles and they couldn’t catch us.”

Kovaleski said the district finals also showed something more critical, should Bay survive on Tuesday and reach the region finals as a team. Most likely it would face Gulf Breeze again.

“Because with us winning the matches we did (vs. Gulf Breeze players) and we should have won at number two, we’re capable of beating them head to head,” she said.

Arnold coach Walter Hodges and the Marlins entered the district tournament realizing that it was highly unlikely Arnold would advance individuals to state. Jackie Kasler and Jennifer Pfeifler of Gulf Breeze are the two-time defending state champions at No. 1 doubles, and Kasler at No. 1 singles.

The team competition was another matter, although the Marlins did have a district champion at No. 4 singles in Olivia Stein.

“We were kind of expecting to qualify, the girls are excited about it,” Hodges said. “We’re going up against the same team in the semi regionals that we did last year when we lost three to four.

“I think we have a stronger team this year, and we heard their number one has graduated.”

Hodges said the time of the match will be decided today.

Results of matches Thursday involving county players:

Boys

• Singles — No. 1: Jason Moody B def. Clay Pfeifler GB 7-6 8-6) 6-2; No. 2: Tyler Barr B def. by Gus Anastopolou GB 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; No. 4:: Dylan McCormick B def. James Martin GB 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
• Doubles — No. 1: Moody-Barr B def. Gager-Nield A 6-1, 6-1, Moody-Barr B def. Anastopolou-Pfeifler GB 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; No. 2: Barry-McCormick B def. by Battel-Donahay PHS 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; Meeks-Armstrong A def. by Martin-Wang GB 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
• Girls
• Singles — No. 2: Kail Deberry A def. by Jennifer Pfeifler GB 6-0-, 6-1; No. 3: Tori Pettofrezzo A def. by Tanya Walters GB 6-1, 6-1; No. 4: Olivia Stein A def. Catherine Farmer GB 6-4, 6-4; No. 5: Alexis Cooper A  def. by Laurin Halstead GB  2-6, 7-5, 6-1
• Doubles — No. 1: Biglione-Pettofrezzo def. by Kasler-Pfeifler GB 6-0, 6-0; No.2: Deberry-Stein def. by Farmer-Walters 6-1, 6-3.