Southern Arizona is well represented heading into Fridayβs quarterfinals of the individual tennis state tournaments at Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale.
Hereβs a division-by-division look at the local players and who they face, with a chance to advance to Saturdayβs semifinal and championship rounds:
Boys Division II Singles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 3:30 p.m.
No. 1 Yash Parikh, SAL, vs. Kenneth Arrick, SAG
Path to the quarterfinals: Top-seeded Yash Parikh looks to continue his crushing run through the singles tournament when he takes on Kenneth Arrick from Saguaro. In three matches, Parikh has only dropped one game on his way to the quarterfinals. Parikh won a singles title as a sophomore in 2014 and can cap off his storied career with another title this weekend.
No. 3 Shawn Parks, PR, vs. No. 6 Brandon Boyle, HIG
Path to the quarterfinals: Like Parikh, Shawn Parks of Pusch Ridge Christian is aiming to continue his own dominant run when he takes on No. 6 Brandon Boyle of Higley on Friday. Parks, a junior, swept his first two opponents in the tournament before defeating Beau Boyer of Cibola 6-1, 6-1 on his way to his first quarterfinal appearance.
No. 4 George Jiang, CF vs. No. 5 Alexis Ton, NOG
Path to the quarterfinals: Southern Arizona is represented well in the matchup between No. 4 George Jiang from Catalina Foothills and No. 5 Alexis Ton from Nogales. Both have cruised through their first three opponents on their way to the quarterfinals, especially Jiang, who has only dropped one game so far in the tournament. Ton is making his first appearance in the singles quarterfinals, having previously reached the stage in the doubles tournament.
Boys Division II Doubles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Mike Lee/Mason Lee, CF, vs. No. 7 Henry Wang/Brendan Rumel, RIN
Path to the quarterfinals: Brothers Mike and Mason Lee hope to continue a winning tradition in the family as they face off against the duo of Henry Wang and Brendan Rumel. Mike, a senior, was the Division II singles champ as a freshman in 2013 and was the singles runner-up in 2015. Now Mason, a freshman, can help send his older brother out on a high note. Meanwhile, Wang and Rumel reached the quarterfinals together last season as well, but have never advanced to the next round.
No. 5 Jack Mandala/Cyrus Grygutis, SAL, vs. Andrew Ekmark/Kevin Kirsch, PCD
Path to the quarterfinals: Salpointeβs duo of Jack Mandala and Cyrus Grygutis face off against Andrew Ekmark and Kevin Kirsch of Phoenix Country Day with a chance to advance to the semifinals. The deepest run both players have seen, Mandala and Grygutis have only dropped one game on their way to a dominant first three rounds.
No. 6 Preston Grammond/Jarod Bristol, PR, vs. Max Bilyk/Kaden Macor, ND
Path to the quarterfinals: Preston Grammond and Jarod Bristol represent Pusch Ridge in the doubles quarterfinals and take on Notre Dameβs Max Bilyk and Kaden Macor. Both are competing in their first doubles quarterfinals, but Bristol reached the singles semifinals in each of the last two seasons.
Girls Division II Singles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Lindsey Pesquiera, RIN, vs. Ammi Drella, PAGE
Path to the quarterfinals: Second-seeded Lindsey Pesquiera reached the doubles semifinals a year ago as a freshman and is trying to get back to that stage on her own this season. Pesquiera is taking on Ammi Drella from Page after cruising through the first three rounds, having lost only one game.
No. 4 Morgan Chakraborty, CF, vs. No. 5 Francesca de Marneffe, PCD
Path to the quarterfinals: Morgan Chakraborty of Catalina Foothills returns to the state quarterfinals for the second straight season. Chakraborty, the No. 4 seed, lost to the eventual champion in this round last season but has only dropped two games on in the tournament this season.
No. 6 Emma Oropeza, NOG, vs. No. 3 Sarah Adewumi NCAN
Path to the quarterfinals: After a couple of early tournament exits in the past, Emma Oropeza of Nogales is making her first quarterfinals appearance as she prepares to take on the No. 3 seed from North Canyon. Oropeza has only lost two games on her deepest tournament run of her career.
Girls Division II Doubles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Abby Watson/Halle Zadro, CF, vs. Marcia Lopez/Lilly Zhang, RIN
Path to the quarterfinals: Abby Watson has a new partner this year in Halle Zadro as she aims to repeat as a doubles state champion. Zadro is making her first quarterfinal appearance, as are Marcia Lopez and Lilly Zhang of Rincon/University. Watson and Zadro made quick work of their first three rounds while Lopez and Zhang knocked off the No. 7 seed.
No. 3 Patricia Bernabe/Olivia Manheimer, IR, vs. No. 6 Eleanor Ahlstrom/Olivia Napolitano, BUCK
Path to the quarterfinals: Patricia Bernabe and Olivia Manheimer will be Ironwood Ridgeβs newest representatives in this yearβs quarterfinals after squeezing out a couple of tough wins through the first three rounds. Last season, I-Ridge duo and former state champions Kelsey Brown and Allison Knox finished as the double runner-up.
Hannah May/Lucia Lopez Manzano, CDO, vs. No. 4 Isabella Boxrud/Natalie Boxrud, DR
Path to the quarterfinals: Canyon del Oro duo of Hannah May and Lucia Lopez Manzano are making their state quarterfinal debut as they prepare to take on the No. 4 seed from Desert Ridge. May and Lopez Manzano cruised to victories in the first and third rounds but were forced to a third set in the second round.
Boys Division III Singles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Jesus Cordova, WG, vs. Francisco Sotelo, CHO
Path to the quarterfinals: Jesus Cordova and Francisco Sotelo are both making their first quarterfinals appearances in this all-Southern Arizona matchup. Cordova has dominated his first three matches while Sotelo upset the No. 4 seeded player in the first round on his way to the reaching the second weekend.
Boys Division III Doubles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 5 p.m.
No. 3 Noah Baker/Samuel Baker, DC, vs. Alexiss Vela Chavez / Kevin Alvarez, CTRL
Path to the quarterfinals: Noah and Samuel Baker will take on Alexiss Vela Chavez and Kevin Alvarez of Central in their first doubles quarterfinals. Noah Baker, a senior, advanced to the singles semifinals a year ago, before teaming up with this sophomore brother this season. The Bakers logged a dominant third-round win after going to tiebreakers in the second round.
Chris Altizer/Chris McDaniels, TV, vs. No. 4 Jared Hockaday/Eugene Tackett, MIA
Path to the quarterfinals: After upsetting the No. 5 doubles team in their bracket, Tanque Verdeβs Chris Altizer and Chris McDaniels will face off against Jared Hockaday and Eugene Tackett of Miami. Both McDaniels and Altizer are making their first appearances in the state quarterfinals.
Girls Division III Singles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Carli Merrill, BEN, vs. No. 7 Sofia Linskey, NLAND
Path to the quarterfinals: Second-seeded Carli Merrill is trying to get back to the semifinals this season after losing there to the eventual champion last season. Merrill, a junior, has been on a roll so far, having swept two of her first three opponents so far in the tournament.
No. 3 Emily Lopez, AMP, vs. Ashley Fitzsimmons, WG
Path to the quarterfinals: Emily Lopez and Ashley Fitzsimmons will face off once again, only this time in the quarterfinals. These two met last year in the third round and Lopez advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Lopez has won all three of her matches in straight sets, while Fitzsimmons upset the No. 6 seed in the first round before cruising to wins in the second and third rounds.
Kelsey Ingerson, TV, vs. No. 1 Neha Alety, RS
Path to the quarterfinals: Kelsey Ingerson of Tanque Verde will try to take down top-ranked Neha Alety in her first singles quarterfinal appearance. Ingerson reached the doubles quarterfinals two years ago and has won each of her matches in straight sets, including an upset against the No. 8 seed.
Lily Wharton, PAT, vs. No. 5 Luz Zamudio, SET
Path to the quarterfinals: Patagoniaβs Lily Wharton can continue the best state tournament run of her career as she faces No. 5 Luz Zamudio from Seton Catholic Prep. Wharton upset No. 4 Polly Evans of Safford in the third round and has beaten each of her opponents in straight sets. Wharton made the state tournament the past two seasons in doubles competition, but was ousted early both times.
Girls Division III Doubles Tournament
Quarterfinal matches scheduled for Friday, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Brandi Swenson/Carly Caylor, GREG, vs. Payton Holcomb/Samantha Darza, PHON
Path to the quarterfinals: Brandi Swenson and Carly Caylor will both be playing in their first state quarterfinal match when they face off against Payton Holcomb and Samantha Darza from Paradise Honors. The duo made quick of their first two matchups before getting pushed to a three-set match by Mia Bradley and Abby Guest from Combs.
Elizabeth Daley/Rebekah Larson, SD, vs. Hailey Greer/Brooklyn Angle, THAT
Path to the quarterfinals: Elizabeth Daley and Rebekah Larson are another group of newcomers to the quarterfinals. They won their first two rounds in straight sets before upsetting the No. 5 seed in a three-set match in the third round.
