Five Tennis Players from Tornados Team Advance to Districts after Conference Tournament

Yelm High School’s girls tennis team is making waves in the South Sound Conference after a successful season that culminated in a first-place finish. The team recently competed in the conference tournament, where five players secured their spots in the upcoming district tournament.

Serenity Stepanek emerged as the standout singles competitor, earning the No. 4 seed for the district tournament. Head coach Mike McClellan praised Stepanek’s performance, noting her impressive rise from a lower seed to a top contender.

Teammate Henlee Sherman narrowly missed out on a higher seed, but will serve as a district alternate after a close match that ended in a tie-breaker. Additionally, two doubles teams, including the Beaudin sisters and Samantha Burian with Alyssa Ellsworth, secured spots in the district tournament.

Coach McClellan expressed confidence in his team’s abilities, emphasizing their strong record and determination to reach the state tournament. The upcoming district tournament, scheduled for May 17-18 at the Boeing Employees Tennis Club in Kent, presents an opportunity for the Yelm Tornados to showcase their skills on a larger stage.

Prior to the district tournament, the team celebrated their success at a banquet honoring their 2024 SSC championship. While details of the banquet were not disclosed, it is clear that the Yelm High School girls tennis team is poised for success as they continue their journey towards the state tournament.