Courtesy Photo

Wellington varsity tennis continue to prove that they’re an adept opponent in invitationals, this time on the road to Circle. The team took home the 2nd place plaque in what Head Coach Brian Aufdengarten called a “highly competitive” eight-team invitational last Thursday. 

The #1 Singles slot was once again senior Addie Hinshaw, who was seeded in the #7 slot. Senior Kadynce Aufdengarten and junior Cruz Cornejo were the top seed for #1 Doubles. Freshman Gracie Thomson was seeded #4 for the other singles slot, and her twin Addi Thomson paired with junior Logan Robinson as the top-seeded #2 Doubles team. “Coach Aufty” reports that his team all played to their seeds with the exception of Addie Hinshaw who finished one better as 6th Place. 

Kadynce Aufdengarten and Cruz Cornejo haven’t played as a doubles team together since middle school, but Coach says they “looked pretty good,” handily defeating their first El Dorado opponents and then facing formidable 5A State qualifiers Ullmann and Wilborn of Andover Central. The Wellington pair were up 5-0 before AC rallied a bit, but Kadynce and Cruz put them away 8-5. For their final match, they played against a Circle team including Londyn Soto, who faced and defeated both Wellington doubles teams at State last year and finished ahead of them in a 5th Place State finish. Kadynce and Cruz dealt Soto and Circle some decisive payback with. 7-1 lead before winning 8-3 to take 1st in their tournament bracket. 

Aufty says his #1 Singles player Addie Hinshaw is hitting the ball even better each meet she plays, but that #1 Singles is really tough. Addie was thrown to the consolation bracket by Kice of Wichita Classical, who won 6th Place at 3-2-1A State last year. After that, she dominated the #6 -seed from Circle, but lost 3-8 in the 5th Place match against Andover Central. 

The Crusader #2 Doubles team of Logan Robinson and Addi Thomson is a new pairing, and they beat their first opponent El Dorado in what Assistant Coach Daphne Adams called one of the shortest matches she has seen. After dominating their next opponent to make the finals, Logan and Addi got down 0-3 in the championship match before going on a 5-game streak and finally finishing 8-6 for 1st Place. 

Freshman Gracie Thomson had some very stiff competition in the #2 Singles slot. She was able to overtake her first opponent, Victoria Westbrook of Circle, 8-4. After that she had to face two very experienced seniors, one a 4A State Qualifier from Buhler and another a senior who sat out varsity play last year after transferring to Wichita Classical. 

Though Wichita Classical didn’t win any divisions during the tournament, they were able to edge Wellington out of a team 1st Place by just three points. 

Wellington’s varsity squad will next travel to Goddard on Tuesday. 

TEAM SCORES:

1 - Wichita Classical 52

2 - WELLINGTON 49

3 - Buhler 48

4 - Augusta 37

5 - Wichita Collegiate 33

6 - Andover Central 32

7 - Circle 25

8 - El Dorado 4

Individual Results: 

#1 Doubles - Aufdengarten/Cornejo 3-0 (1st)

8-0, 8-5, 8-3

#1 Singles - Addie Hinshaw 1-2 (6th)

1-8, 8-2, 3-8

#2 Doubles - A. Thomson/Robinson 3-0 (1st)

8-0, 8-2, 8-6

#2 Singles - Gracie Thomson 1-2 (4th)

8-4, 1-8, 3-8

FULL CIRCLE INVITATIONAL RESULTS