Saddlebrook's boys and girls tennis teams finished third in the Class A championships in Tallahassee on Wednesday, with the Spartans' No. 1 doubles team of Ryan Waits and Clint Bowles playing today for the overall doubles championship.
Saddlebrook had three singles players in the state finals, but all three lost, with Waits losing the No. 1 singles crown to Delray Beach American Heritage's Sam Chang, 6-4, 6-1. Bowles and Gian Hodgson lost to players from state champ Bradenton St. Stephens at No. 2 and 3, respectively.
Waits and Bowles combined to win the team doubles championship on Wednesday and will play today against the winner of the doubles championship from the state's individual qualifiers for the overall doubles crown.
"The girls, I knew would be in the thick of things, but the guys I expected a little more from," coach Matt Holsopple said. "We had a couple of matches that didn't go our way, but I'm still pleased with the way both teams played."
Saddlebrook's only girls players left Wednesday were in doubles, and the Spartans' No. 2 pair had to default when Lindsey Gray was too sick to play. The No. 1 doubles pair of Alina Sullivan and Christy Liles advanced to the state final, where they lost 7-5, 6-2 to American Heritage's Whitney Benik and Julia Koulbitskaya.
