Kaitlyn Brayton was crowned as the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III girls singles champion in tennis for the third straight year, defeating her opponent from Center High School of North Sacramento in a thrilling match on Friday.
"This was probably the best player Kaitlyn has ever faced," coach Dan Thompson said.
The girl, a freshman, had topped Escalon's Presli Pilati in the semifinals to advance to the Section final.
"Presli battled but lost to her 6-4, 6-3," Thompson said. "This girl is intimidating, she's about a 6-1 freshman and we figured her serve was about 90 miles an hour."
On Thursday, Brayton, Pilati, Daniel Thompson, Julia Thompson and Katie Aprile all made the trip to Oak Park in Stockton for the first round of the Sections.
"All advanced to the semifinals," Thompson said of finding success on the courts on Thursday.
Friday, girls doubles Julia Thompson and Katie Aprile lost their match in two sets, Pilati fell to the Center player and Daniel Thompson faced the number one boy, a player from Placer.
"He lost 6-4, 6-0 but it was a good match," Thompson said.
Brayton won her semifinal match to come back and battle with the Center player for the crown.
"She was able to fight off the serve, she won the first set 6-4, then she fell behind in the second 0-4 before rallying back and she won it 7-5."
The Cougars, as a team, were slated to host the team section quarterfinals against Argonaut on Monday, May 18 after The Times went to press. A win there would put them on the road for a match in Placer on Wednesday, May 20.
"This was probably the best player Kaitlyn has ever faced," coach Dan Thompson said.
The girl, a freshman, had topped Escalon's Presli Pilati in the semifinals to advance to the Section final.
"Presli battled but lost to her 6-4, 6-3," Thompson said. "This girl is intimidating, she's about a 6-1 freshman and we figured her serve was about 90 miles an hour."
On Thursday, Brayton, Pilati, Daniel Thompson, Julia Thompson and Katie Aprile all made the trip to Oak Park in Stockton for the first round of the Sections.
"All advanced to the semifinals," Thompson said of finding success on the courts on Thursday.
Friday, girls doubles Julia Thompson and Katie Aprile lost their match in two sets, Pilati fell to the Center player and Daniel Thompson faced the number one boy, a player from Placer.
"He lost 6-4, 6-0 but it was a good match," Thompson said.
Brayton won her semifinal match to come back and battle with the Center player for the crown.
"She was able to fight off the serve, she won the first set 6-4, then she fell behind in the second 0-4 before rallying back and she won it 7-5."
The Cougars, as a team, were slated to host the team section quarterfinals against Argonaut on Monday, May 18 after The Times went to press. A win there would put them on the road for a match in Placer on Wednesday, May 20.
