H.S. Tennis: Second-year Albany coach reloads for state tournament
ALBANY − M.J. Reneau never went to state as a tennis player at Albany, but she’s had a great run so far in her first two years as the Lions’ head tennis coach.
She has taken nine players to the Class 2A state tournament in her first two years as a head coach, including six this year. She even had a state champion last year in Sarah Cotter, who dropped a total of five games in winning girls singles.
Not a bad start for a coaching career, huh?
“I stepped into a great program,” Reneau said. “Sara Wilson did a great job. She was the tennis coach here for years and years. Yeah, I was lucky to step into this role with these kids.”
Reneau, a 2009 Albany grad, never got further than the regional tournament playing mixed doubles for the Lions. She did go to state as a volleyball player.
She might get her second state champion in as many years this week at the Class 2A state tournament in San Antonio. L
uke Marshall, who reached the state semifinals last year, is back at the meet. He might have won it all, too, last year, but an injury forced him to retire in the second set against Crawford’s Ty Williams.
Marshall already had beaten the eventual state champion, Maud’s Lando Winter, at the region tournament.
Marshall, who won his second straight region title this year, plays Sterling City’s Shane Pugh at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in the state quarterfinals at Blossom Tennis Center.
Reneau believes Marshall can win it all this time.
“I think he can, for sure,” she said.
Russell back at state
Sidney Russell, a junior and two-time region runner-up, also is returning to the state tournament in girls singles.
She lost to eventual state finalist Blake Jenkins of Christoval in a grueling three-set match last year.
Russell draws Carolina Williams of Port Aransas in the opening round on Tuesday.
“She has a really tough first match,” Reneau said. “I told her to just go out there and compete and do your best.”
Russell, though is battle tested. Cotter beat her for the region title last year, and Danielle Slack, a 3A state qualifier last year before Whitwright dropped down to 2A this year, beat her in the region finals this year.
Two state champs team up
Cason Fairchild and London Fuentes play Robert Aguero and Jack Gillispie of Mason in the first round of boys doubles.
Both are athletic, versatile athletes. Fairchild also competes in baseball and track, while Fuentes runs track this spring.
“Both of them are very athletic,” Reneau said. “They have their style in doubles, and it works for them. They were district champs and regional runner-ups. It’s pretty neat to have both boys doubles from district advancing to state.
That other doubles team from Albany’s district is Hawley’s Francis and Benedict Patanpatan, who draw Mason’s Cade Dudney and Keltan Jordan in the first round.
Karl, a sophomore, finished fourth at the state cross country meet in the fall.
Fairchild and Fuentes already have a state title playing football this past fall. Winning another will be tough. Aguero and Gillispie are the defending state champions.
Reneau isn’t putting too much pressure on any of her players. She’s enjoyed her run as a coach so far, and she plans on enjoying this this week in the Alamo City.
Alternate plans
Albany sophomore Abbi Hale might have the biggest challenge.
She found out on Friday that she would have to step in for teammate Jaci Chapman as senior Ella Webb’s partner in girls doubles on the state’s biggest stage.
Webb had to have emergency surgery on her appendix Friday and can't play. Hale played mixed doubles in district and region. Think suddenly finding yourself playing with a new partner days before playing in the state quarterfinals isn’t a tough situation?
“It is a lot of pressure,” Reneau said. “We practice a lot and mix it up in practice, just in case something like this happens. I feel like they’ll be OK. They’ll be prepared. They’re friends. They play volleyball together. So, they already have some chemistry going. We just hope the best for them.”
The Albany duo plays Sonora’s Mariana DelaFuente and Montse DelaFuente in the first round.
Reneau isn’t putting too much pressure on any of her players. She’s enjoyed her run as a coach so far, and she plans on enjoying this this week in the Alamo City.
“I just want them to do their best and compete well while we’re there – try to bring home as many medals as we can,” she said.
Stamford’s Emily Patterson and Dominic Vega also will play mixed doubles at the 2A state tournament. They play Bremond’s Carson Crowley and Sadi Kasowski in the first round at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Bremond duo lost in the first round last year.
The state semifinal matches will be later in the day Tuesday, and the finals are set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
More: H.S. tennis: Longtime friends Crousen, Short thrive behind bond on the court
More: H.S. tennis: State berth proves a dream come true for Abilene High's Sullivan
Big Country State Qualifiers
CLASS 5A
At Northside Tennis Center, Helotes
Boys Singles
Griffin Sullivan, Abilene High
Boys Doubles
Grant Bristow/Conner Brown, Wylie
Mixed Doubles
Stealey Crousen/Trevor Short, Wylie
Carly Bontke/Marshall McPherson, Wylie
CLASS 2A
At Blossom Tennis Center, San Antonio
Boys Singles
Luke Marshall, Albany
Boys Doubles
Cason Fairchild/London Fuentes, Albany
Francis Patanpatan/Benedict Patanpatan, Hawley
Girls Singles
Sidney Russell, Albany
Girls Doubles
Abbi Hale/Ella Webb, Albany
Mixed Doubles
Emily Patterson/Dominic Vega, Stamford
CLASS 1A
At Blossom Tennis Center, San Antonio
Boys Singles
Jake Bell, Rising Star
Colt Lawrence, Rising Star
Josue Buitron, Gustine
Boys Doubles
Zach Ward/Javier Delbosque, Priddy
Girls Singles
Haley Eason, Zephyr
Betty Sheiman, Woodson
Mixed Doubles
Tallon Hayes/Valydia Zavala, Benjamin
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Six Albany athletes play at state tennis tournament Tuesday
