WOOSTER — Their season ended on the biggest stage and that is something to be proud of.
The Shelby Whippets doubles team of Bella Carver and Annie Mahek took to the court at the College of Wooster on Thursday morning for the Division II state doubles tennis tournament. They dropped their first and only match of the day to Grace Philip and Sophie Wu of Gahanna Columbus Academy 6-1, 6-1 to end their season.
High School Tennis:‘I am very proud of us’: Shelby’s Carver, Mahek ready for OHSAA State Tennis Tournament
Carver and Mahek became the first Shelby state qualifiers since 2008 and the first doubles team to make it to state since 1993. They were among the 16 best doubles teams in all of Division II and were just one win away from clinching an All-Ohio spot.
They were the first Shelby doubles team to qualify for state in 30 years joining Lori Felter and Tiffany LaSusa as the only doubles teams in program history.
They were also the first Shelby tennis players to make it to state in 15 years after Jordyn Parrigan earned a singles spot in 2008.
Carver and Mahek ended the year as first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference players as singles competitors and also won the Division II sectional doubles championship. They were third in the Division II district becoming the highest placing doubles team from Shelby in 30 years in the tournament.
Carver and Mahek are only juniors and will be back looking to become just the second repeat state qualifiers in program history next year.
740-244-9934
Twitter: @JakeFurr11