Columbia High School’s Claire Hayes Secures Spot at State Tennis Tournament
Columbia High School’s singles tennis player, Claire Hayes, had an impressive performance on Thursday, May 16, securing her spot at the Washington State High School Tennis Tournament. Hayes won three straight matches at the 1A District 4 girls varsity tennis championship tournament to advance to the state level.
In the first round, Hayes defeated Halle Hill from Castle Rock High School with a score of 6-1, 6-2. She continued her winning streak in the second round, beating Bailey Andersen from Eatonville High School 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. Hayes finished off the day with a third round victory against Hazel Langer from Stevenson High School with a score of 6-2, 6-4.
At the end of the first day of the tournament, the top four singles players were all from the Gorge, represented by Columbia and Stevenson High Schools. The tournament finals were held the next day at Stevenson High School, where Samia Rudd from Stevenson HS defeated Hayes 6-4, 6-4. Both Rudd and Hayes will now be playing in the 1A WIAA State Tournament in Yakima on May 24-25.
The Columbia High School tennis team had a successful season overall, finishing second in the Evergreen League with a record of 9-2. The Bruins doubles team of Audrey Coyner and Josephine Beck finished third at the district tournament and will be going to the state tournament as alternates. Juliet Perez, another singles player from Columbia, placed fourth at the district tournament.