STC’s Grace Novotny serves during one of her sets at the WaMaC Conference tournament. The tournament was held in Independence May 4. Photo Provided

The STC Girls Tennis Team traveled to Independence on May 4 to participate in the 2021 WaMaC Conference Tennis Meet. The Trojans placed fifth after accumulating 17 team points. The Trojans finished one point out of fourth place. Independence edged Mount Vernon by one point to claim the conference team championship.

Senior Hope Werner placed third in #1 singles after finishing the day 1-1. Werner fell to Jenna Wiebenga of Maquoketa in the semi-finals by a score of 8-5. In the third-place match, Werner defeated Annalise Harp of Mount Vernon 8-6. The win was Werner’s third win over Harp this season. Junior Adriana Cervantes placed third at #5 singles after going 2-1 in her matches. Cervantes defeated Izzy Yoder of Maquoketa 8-3. She was defeated by Macy Eskelsen of Mount Vernon by a score of 8-5. In the third-place match, Cervantes downed Samantha Sorensen of Marion 8-6.

South Tama grabbed two fourth place finishes by Klohe Chyma and Grace Novotny. Chyma finished 1-2 at #4 singles after defeating Tess McCutcheon of Maquoketa 8-6 and falling 8-0 to Cami Streicher of Mount Vernon and 8-1 to Kenzie Schroeder of Independence. Novotny stepped on court at #6 singles to represent STC. She finished 1-2 in the tournament after defeating Grace Coyle of Maquoketa 8-2 and falling to Avery Patton of Independence 8-3 and Kasia Wiebel of Mount Vernon 8-1.

South Tama recorded two fifth-place finishes in singles. Senior Aubrey Roberts suffered a heartbreaking loss in the first round at #2 singles to Briley Miller of Maquoketa. Miller grabbed the match in a tiebreaker as she tallied a 9-8(3) win for the Cardinal. Jordyn Cremeans was defeated by Maquoketa’s Laney Hafner in the first round 0-8 at #3 singles.

In doubles play, South Tama recorded two fourth place finishes and one fifth place finish. Werner/Roberts teamed to finish fourth at #1 Doubles. They defeated Maddie Steffen and Samantha Sorensen of Marion by a score of 8-4 in the first round. In the semi-final round Nikki Higgins and Tuvy Nolting of Independence survived a tense match to win 8-4 over the Trojans. In the third-place match, Werner/Roberts took on Jenna Wiebenga and Laney Hafner from Maquoketa in an epic battle. In the end, Werner/Roberts were edged out of third place when they fell 7-9.

Seniors Cremeans/Chyma took to the court at #3 doubles and finished 2-1 in the tournament. The Trojans easily defeated Grace Coyle and Izzy Yoder from Maquoketa in the first round 8-1. In the semi-finals, Cremeans/Chyma battled Brooke Schurbon and Lauren Swartendruber from Mount Vernon. Despite playing well, the duo from STC fell by a score of 8-5. In the third-place match Cremeans/Chyma ran out of steam as they were defeated 8-1 by Kadia Cole, and Alyssa Janssen of Marion. South Tama’s Novotny/Cervantes were defeated 8-0 by Briley Miller and Tessa McCutcheon of Maquoketa at #2 doubles to finish in fifth place.