Girls’ tennis team secures another conference crown
By JOHN GALBREATH Sports Editor
Stanwood’s Lady Spartan tennis team clinched the Western Conference 4A North Division championship with a convincing 5-2 victory over Arlington last week.
In addition to that titlecapturing win over the only team to beat them this season, the Sparts (14-1 in league and overall) beat Lake Stevens as well, 4-3.
Against the Eagles, all four local singles players came through convincingly. Megan Lalone, Kallen Shaughnessy, Marina Messerli and Reanne Lee, numbers 1-4, respectively, all triumphed in straight sets.
Lalone defeated Arlington’s best player, Bailey Abdo, 6-0, 6-0, Shaughnessy beat Kelsey Ghirardo 64, 6-2, Messerli took the No. 3 match over Alexa Garduno Craviato 6-2, 6-3 and Lee showed little mercy in outplaying her opposite 6- 0, 6-2.
The lone doubles victory was earned by the Sparts’ No.2 duo, Heather Smith and Heather Baxter as they too won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
During the Lake Stevens’ match, Lalone (6-0, 6-0), Shaughnessy (6-0, 6-1) and Messerli (6-1, 6- 1) once again ran into little trouble.
The two Heathers, Smith and Baxter, demonstrated some real mettle in their doubles showdown after losing their first set 1-6. After edging their Viking counterparts 7-5 in the second set, they were awarded the final round after one of the Lake Stevens’ players had to retire due to an injury.
