The Geneva tennis team has been achieving its goals all season. The Eagles were the Northeastern Conference Tournament champions, they won another NEC championship and they sent five players to the Oberlin Division I district tournament. Their hopes of sending a player or players to next week’s state tournament, however, ended in the first round of the district tournament Wednesday.
“It wasn’t what we were hoping for, but I don’t want to take away from anything our girls accomplished this year,” Geneva coach Scott Torok said. “The girls they played today were just better.”
Junior Courtney Thompson, the Eagles’ No. 1, fell to Christine Coffman of Firestone, 6-1, 6-0, in the first round singles tournament. Coffman went on to defeat Copley’s Jessica Wharton, 6-0, 6-0, in the second round.
In doubles play, Geneva’s Nichole Boruta and Jessica Coggins lost to Hoover’s Kim Reisdorf and Lauren Rife, 6-0, 6-3. And Ali Mack and Sarah Smith dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to Brecksville’s Erika Sullivan and Ashley Bonamer.
“We accomplished quite a lot this year,” Torok said. “We’re very good for Ashtabula County and the surrounding area. But when we get to the district level and face some of the teams from the Cleveland area, we find out just how far we have to go.
“The girls accomplished so much this year. You hate to see the season to come to an end.”
The 2008 season didn’t end the way the Eagles hoped it would, but they haven’t given up hope of taking that next step.
“It won’t be today and it won’t be tomorrow, but the girls will keep working on their games,” Torok said. “We sent five girls to district this year, and three of them (Thompson, Coggins and Smith) are juniors. Courtney and Jessica have been to district twice, and I’m sure they want to get back here again next year.”
— Tom Harris
