YAKIMA – Both the boys and girls Tonasket High School tennis teams took fourth place at the 1B/2B/1A State Tennis Tournament at the Yakima Tennis Center from Friday, May 27 through Saturday, May 28.

“The kids did really well,” Head Coach Dave Buchheim said.

The boys’ doubles team, seniors Lee Leavell and Brett Hendrick, won their first match 6-0, 6-0 against Jonathon Abarca and Josue Cuevas from Wahluke before defeating Stanley Peterson and Chris Gugliuzza from Charles Wright 7-6 (1), 6-3 on May 27. Peterson and Gugliuzza were the last year’s defending champions. Next, on May 28, Leavell and Hendrick defeated Grant Munoz and March Munoz from Overlake 6-3, 6-1 to make it to the state finals. In the final round, the boys were defeated by Nathan Anderson and Ty King from Cascade Christian 2-6, 0-6 to take second place.

“Hendrick and Leavell took out the defending champions from last year,” Buchheim said. “They played pretty solid in their final match, but there just wasn’t enough there.”

Girls singles player sophomore Megan Beyers won her first match 6-0, 6-0 against Brianne Hart from Lakeside before defeating Caroline Roush from Overlake 6-3, 6-4. On May 28, Beyers defeated Italia Megarelli from Granger 6-3, 6-0 to make it to the finals. In the final round, Beyers lost to Michelle Lui from Forest Ridge 6-1, 6-0 to take second place.

“Beyers played consistent all the way through,” Buchheim said. “The girl she lost to is nationally ranked but she played well against her.”

The final Tonasket player, boys singles player junior Anthony Verhasselt lost his first match to Nick Marchi from Bush 6-2, 6-2. He then defeated Thomas Hitchens from Lakeside 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and finished out the first day of competition with a victory over Jeremy Gaudette from Naches Valley 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. On May 28, Verhasselt lost his final match to Kieth Bighorn from Goldendale 6-1, 6-3 to take eighth place.

“Verhasselt got better and better as the tournament went on,” Buchheim said. “His best match was his last.”

All four of the Tigers were presented with medals, which Buchheim said they were all pretty happy to receive.

“I was really happy. We brought three teams and all three came out with medals,” Buchheim said. “Both the girls and boys teams took fourth place, so that was really good. I thought the tournament was well ran, even with the rain delays. I was very impressed.”

The team’s banquet has been scheduled for the evening of Monday, June 6 at the Wahl’s residence in Loomis.