Tornado tennis duo bounced after earning first round win in NYS tournament
PORT CHESTER – The fantastic Norwich duo of senior Makenzie Maynard and Caroline Stewart had high hopes for 2016 – and just how they wanted to end their postseason run.
When Maynard and Stewart walked into Sound Shore Indoor Tennis Center on Oct. 29, for the first round of New York State girls varsity tennis championship's they did so with a goal.
“Our goal coming into the states was to win a round in the main draw, accomplish something that has not been done by any Norwich girls tennis player that has played in the last 20 years – four different doubles teams. A big goal that would put us in the top 16 in the state,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart.
The massive first round of main draw matches for the doubles NYS tournament featured 32 different duos matching up for 16 matches.
The Tornado duo made the best of their draw when they were set to face Madeline Dering and Jenna Nimmer of Bethlehem.
“We got a great first round draw playing the second place finishers from section II (Albany Area). We had seen the team from Bethlehem earlier in the year at the same pre-season tournament and knew it was a team that we could beat,” said coach Stewart. “We played a strong consistent game, we served well, we attacked at the net. And our play from the baseline limited there net play.”
Stewart explained that although Maynard and Stewart fell down to a 4-3 deficit in the first set of the matchup, the Norwich duo was able to reverse the trend early on and claim the 7-5, and 6-3 win.
“We were down 4-3 in the first set with their weakest player serving. We broke her serve to tie at 4-4. Caroline served the ninth game with solid serves which set up Makenzie at net and the Norwich duo never gave up the lead the rest of the match,” said coach Stewart.
With the Norwich duo winning their astonishing first round draw in the NYS tournament they now have etched themselves into the Tornado record books somewhat, as they become the duo who has made it the furthest in the last 20 years, ranking in the top 16 duos for 2016 – which is longer than either Maynard or Stewart have even been alive.
Following their 7-5, and 6-3 win over Bethlehem, Norwich advanced to the second round of the tournament to face off against second-seeded Calista Sha and Morgan Wilkins of Friends Academy.
Although the scores reflect a one-sided matchup with Friends Academy, the actual results were much closer as the Norwich girls battled but came up short losing to Sha and Wilkins by a score of 6-0, and 6-1.
“Most of those games were five and seven point games we just could not win any big points,” said coach Stewart.
And with that loss to Friends Academy in the second round of the 2016 NYS championship so comes the end of the 2016 season for Norwich varsity tennis, while also the high school career of senior Makenzie Maynard.
“Makenzie and Caroline set out at the beginning of the year to win the class championships (1st place), win state qualifiers (2nd place), get a win in the main draw of the state tournament (they did). It was great weekend for Norwich tennis and it was great ending to a solid doubles team,” said coach Stewart. “Norwich tennis loses a solid five year senior in Makenzie Maynard. Her accomplishments are many: four time NY State Qualifier in both singles and doubles, Section IV champion, Section IV third place finisher and runner up, two-time NY State championship participant, and many All-STAC All-Division player awards, along with being a part of a five time division championship team.”
Notably on the NY State tournament, the eventual winner of the state title in the finals was Friends Academys' Calista Sha and Morgan Wilkins – the team who had bounced Maynard and Stewart in the earlier rounds. Sha and Wilkins defeated Laina Campos and Vanessa Ciano of Ursuline by a score of 1-6, 7-5, and 6-4 to claim the 2016 title.
Submitted Photo
When Maynard and Stewart walked into Sound Shore Indoor Tennis Center on Oct. 29, for the first round of New York State girls varsity tennis championship's they did so with a goal.
“Our goal coming into the states was to win a round in the main draw, accomplish something that has not been done by any Norwich girls tennis player that has played in the last 20 years – four different doubles teams. A big goal that would put us in the top 16 in the state,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart.
The massive first round of main draw matches for the doubles NYS tournament featured 32 different duos matching up for 16 matches.
The Tornado duo made the best of their draw when they were set to face Madeline Dering and Jenna Nimmer of Bethlehem.
“We got a great first round draw playing the second place finishers from section II (Albany Area). We had seen the team from Bethlehem earlier in the year at the same pre-season tournament and knew it was a team that we could beat,” said coach Stewart. “We played a strong consistent game, we served well, we attacked at the net. And our play from the baseline limited there net play.”
Stewart explained that although Maynard and Stewart fell down to a 4-3 deficit in the first set of the matchup, the Norwich duo was able to reverse the trend early on and claim the 7-5, and 6-3 win.
“We were down 4-3 in the first set with their weakest player serving. We broke her serve to tie at 4-4. Caroline served the ninth game with solid serves which set up Makenzie at net and the Norwich duo never gave up the lead the rest of the match,” said coach Stewart.
With the Norwich duo winning their astonishing first round draw in the NYS tournament they now have etched themselves into the Tornado record books somewhat, as they become the duo who has made it the furthest in the last 20 years, ranking in the top 16 duos for 2016 – which is longer than either Maynard or Stewart have even been alive.
Following their 7-5, and 6-3 win over Bethlehem, Norwich advanced to the second round of the tournament to face off against second-seeded Calista Sha and Morgan Wilkins of Friends Academy.
Although the scores reflect a one-sided matchup with Friends Academy, the actual results were much closer as the Norwich girls battled but came up short losing to Sha and Wilkins by a score of 6-0, and 6-1.
“Most of those games were five and seven point games we just could not win any big points,” said coach Stewart.
And with that loss to Friends Academy in the second round of the 2016 NYS championship so comes the end of the 2016 season for Norwich varsity tennis, while also the high school career of senior Makenzie Maynard.
“Makenzie and Caroline set out at the beginning of the year to win the class championships (1st place), win state qualifiers (2nd place), get a win in the main draw of the state tournament (they did). It was great weekend for Norwich tennis and it was great ending to a solid doubles team,” said coach Stewart. “Norwich tennis loses a solid five year senior in Makenzie Maynard. Her accomplishments are many: four time NY State Qualifier in both singles and doubles, Section IV champion, Section IV third place finisher and runner up, two-time NY State championship participant, and many All-STAC All-Division player awards, along with being a part of a five time division championship team.”
Notably on the NY State tournament, the eventual winner of the state title in the finals was Friends Academys' Calista Sha and Morgan Wilkins – the team who had bounced Maynard and Stewart in the earlier rounds. Sha and Wilkins defeated Laina Campos and Vanessa Ciano of Ursuline by a score of 1-6, 7-5, and 6-4 to claim the 2016 title.
Submitted Photo
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