HCHS closes season with strong showing at regional

Harlan+Countys+Lindsay+Hall+and+Abigail+Gaw+advanced+through+two+rounds+of+the+13th+Region+Tennis+Tournament+in+doubles+competition+before+falling+in+the+quarterfinals.

Harlan County’s Lindsay Hall and Abigail Gaw advanced through two rounds of the 13th Region Tennis Tournament in doubles competition before falling in the quarterfinals.

By John Henson, Managing Editor

Harlan County completed a memorable 2023 season in the 13th Region Tournament last week.
The HCHS girls finished the season with a 14-7 mark and the boys finished 11-10.
“Overall, I am proud of the result we held at the tournament. We had several advance to the round of 16 and one team make the quarterfinals,” Harlan County coach Caleb Bailey said. “Steven Fee and Elijah Moore lost a heartbreaker in an overall great match against the fifth seed in the tournament and Elijah can use that fuel from the loss to come back stronger next year. Braden Engle and Connor Cress fell short in the first round. Laura Ball and Kaitlyn Daniels had a tough matchup first round against an experienced Knox Central team. Kalista Dunn played a tough opponent in the second round and played a good match but it wasn’t enough. Bailee Jones played in the regional for the first time and played a tough opponent. This is great learning experience for her.”
Abigail Gaw and Lindsay Hall had the strongest showing for HCHS in the tournament, receiving a bye in the first round before a win against South Laurel in the second round. They fell in the quarterfinals in.a match against Corbin.
“Abigail and Lindsay have been the front of our team for the past three seasons and they left it all on the court,” Bailey said. “They had a great win in the second round against South and came up short just a difference of points in the match against Corbin.”
Bailey likes his team’s chances for continued improvement next spring.
“We are returning Kalista Dunn, Laura Ball, Kaitlyn Daniels, Sophie Day and Bailee Jones next year for the girls, on top of a nice group of seventh graders coming in. We are going to be a young team and there’s learning to that and growth,” he said. “The boys will return Calan Neely, Elijah Moore, Josh Stewart, Connor Cress and Trey Ball. The future is bright and the goal is to still make state. We are going to miss our seniors in Abigail Gaw, Lindsay Hall, Braden Engle, and Steven Fee. You cannot replace seniors, and I am very proud of the young adults these four kids have grown up to be.”

Girls

Round of 32

Singles

Kalista Dunn (HC) def. D. Turner (Harlan), 6-0, 6-0

C. Burchett (Middlesboro) def. Bailee Jones (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

(6) Abigail Gaw/Lindsay Hall drew a BYE

L. Mills/S. Partin (Knox Central) def. Laura Ball/Kaitlyn Daniels (HC), 6-2, 6-1

Round of 16

Singles

(6) L. Bonsiep (Whitley County) def. Kalista Dunn (HC), 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

(6) Abigail Gaw/Lindsay Hall (HC) def. C. Durham/M. Finley (South Laurel), 6-1, 6-3

Quarterfinals

Doubles

(3) A. Lunsford/A. Lundy (Corbin) def. (6) Abigail Gaw/Lindsay Hall (HC), 6-4, 6-3

Boys

Round of 32

Singles

Calan Neely (HC) def. P. Elliott (Pineville), 6-0, 6-1

G. Sharp (Whitley County) def. Josh Stewart (HC), 6-1, 6-2

Doubles

Steven Fee/Elijah Moore (HC) def. E. Buckles/L. Bargo (South Laurel), 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (11-9)

A. Robbins/C. Wilder (Bell County) def. Braden Engle/Connor Cress (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Round of 16

Singles

T. Smith (Knox Central) def. Calan Neely (HC), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

(5)J. Gambrel/J. Mayne (Barbourville) def. Steven Fee/Elijah Moore (HC), 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6)