Individuals from Austin Packers girls tennis team compete at Section 1AA meet Thursday
October 15, 2023 10:58AM CDT
Austin Schools
Individuals from the Austin Packers girls tennis team were in Rochester Thursday to compete in the Section 1AA Individual Tennis Tournament, and at No. 1 singles, Gracie Schmitt, who was named to the Big 9 All-Conference Team, and who finished third at the Big 9 Conference Tournament garnered the No. 4 seed, and Schmitt defeated Emily Beaham of Northfield in the first round 6-1, 6-0, and she then downed Zoe Zhang of Rochester Century in a three-set battle 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, before falling to Claire Loftus of Rochester Mayo, who will be one of the favorites to win a state title this year 6-0, 6-0. Schmitt finishes the season with a record of 17-6, with all of her matches at No. 1 singles for the Packers.
In the doubles competition, the team of Abby and Katie VanPelt of Austin received the No. 9 seed and downed Lillian Hartman and Lorilei Hartman of Red Wing in the first round 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 before falling to the team of Malea Diehm and Keely Ryder of Rochester Mayo, who like Claire Loftus have a good chance to win an individual title 6-0, 6-0. The VanPelts finish their season with a record of 9-8, with all of their matches played at No. 1 doubles.
Abby VanPelt was named to the Big 9 All-Confernence team with Gracie Schmitt, and Katie VanPelt was named All Big 9 Conference Honorable Mention.
