The GHS tennis teams wrapped up their 2018 season earlier this month, October 8-9, in the Class 5A state tournament played at several venues around Hot Springs. Sites included Lakeside High School, Lake Hamilton High School, and Hot Springs Country Club.
The Lady Bulldogs were fresh off winning the 5A West conference championship, while the GHS boys have suffered from depleted numbers all season. The Bulldogs failed to qualify anyone for singles play on the state level, but did have a doubles team to make the cut.
The Greenwood boys were represented by the duo of senior Auston Shown and sophomore Jonathan Mitchell. The GHS combo played a hard-fought match against El Dorado, but eventually fell short by a score of 6-3, 6-3.
In girls’ play, Greenwood’s Abigail Woodring and Olivia Gaston both qualified for state singles competition. Woodring made it past the first round, winning (6-0, 6-0) over Caroline Johnson of Hot Springs Lakeside. But the GHS junior fell short in the second round, losing 6-0, 6-3, to eventual state champion Jenna Payne of Jonesboro.
Gaston, who has been state runner-up for the last two seasons, got a bye in the first round and won her second-round match 6-0, 6-3 over Morgan Whited of Marion.
Gaston then lost in the next round to her old nemesis, Emily Heide of Mountain Home, the two-time defending champ. But Gaston rallied to capture third place honors, defeating Meagan Beck of Mountain Home, 8-2.
Karli Fisher and Leighton Haralson were the girls’ doubles team for Greenwood and they won their opening match over a pair from Lake Hamilton, 7-5, 6-2. Fisher and Haralson then faced a duo from Searcy, losing in the second round, 7-6, 6-1.
Volunteer Head Coach Ken Hamilton offered the following comments regarding his teams this season. “The girls’ tennis team won the conference in 2018,” he said. “They went undefeated in conference matches for the season.
“Our all-conference players are Olivia Gaston, Abigail Woodring, Karli Fisher, and Leighton Haralson. Our only all-state player this year is Olivia Gaston. Overall, [the girls] played to their level, but inexperience hurt us in the state tournament.
“The boys finished third in the conference in 2018,” continued Hamilton. “We only had six boys on the team this year, and that’s the lowest number we’ve ever had. Two players, Jack Gaston and Micah Belue, had never played varsity tennis before, and their inexperience hurt them. [But] they got better each week of the season and finished [as] better players than when it started.
“Kenny Sweeney and Zackery Beshears both had tough draws in the conference tournament and were not able to qualify for state. Both had good years and it will help Zackey become a better player. Kenny goes to soccer to finish his career at Greenwood. He’s a very good athlete and we were fortunate to have him for four years on the team. He will be missed.
“Austin Shown and Johnathan Mitchell also got better as the season progressed, but were unable to defeat higher ranked opponents in the conference and state tournaments,” said the coach.
“Both are good athletes, and Austin improved tremendously since his sophomore year. Jonathan also improved and will have two years remaining to see how good he can be.
"Zackery Beshears lettered for the second year and is getting better,” said Hamilton. “He needs more match experience and to work on his technique, and he will be much more competitive next year. Zack wants to win, and motivation is not a problem.
“Johathan Mitchell lettered for the second year also, and has played doubles for two years. He is a very good athlete and is getting better with each match.
Micah Belue played his first year of tennis at any level and was put into [difficult] match situations he was not prepared for,” said the Coach. “But Micah got better as the season progressed and is very coachable. Micah also wants to get better.”
As for the future prospects of his teams in 2019, the Lady Bulldogs return a strong nucleus of players, especially in singles play, while the boys’ team needs a serious restocking of players.
“Our girls return three-time all-stater Olivia Gaston, and she is due for a championship,” said her coach. “Olivia works hard on the court and is as competitive as anyone I have ever coached.
“She does not like losing, period. If she will improve her quickness and develop more power on her ground strokes, she should be a champion her senior year.
“Abigail Woodring has lettered three years and has the game to win,” he continued. “Abigail is an excellent student, musician, and athlete, and divides her time between the arts, academics, and tennis.
“That lack of court time is the only thing holding her back from [playing] better tennis. However, as coach I encourage all students to pursue their passions outside of tennis, because it’s their high school career and I don’t want them to miss out on what they are passionate about.
Madie Pelt and Breana Acosta are the other returning players who lettered this year,” added Hamilton. “All of our junior varsity players will be back and make the competition for the six varsity positions as competitive as it was in 2018, and it was intensely competitive.”
Congratulations to the Greenwood tennis teams on another solid year.