Manhattan High's Jillian Harkin wins 6A singles tennis state title

Tim Everson, The Manhattan Mercury, Kan.
·1 min read

Oct. 16—WICHITA — For the second time in six months, a Harkin from Manhattan High is the Class 6A tennis singles champion.

Junior Jillian Harkin beat Blue Valley Northwest junior Emily Chiasson 6-4, 6-4, on Saturday in Wichita to capture the state championship at the Riverside Tennis Center.

Harkin was the runner-up last year, and finished third during her freshman campaign in 2019.

Harkin dispatched Olathe Northwest sophomore Ella Novion 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals Saturday morning to set up her second straight appearance in the championship match.

Harkin is the first Manhattan girls' singles state champion since Maria Rosenberg in 2000, and only the second in school history. Her brother, Daniel, won the boys' singles title last year as a senior.

Harkin will return next year to try for back-to-back state titles. MHS also will bring back its No. 2 singles player, Maura Wiens, as well as the doubles team of Erin Craft and Jessica Zhang. The pair was the Indians' No. 2 doubles team this season.

This story will be updated.