KINGSTON – Wyoming Area’s Anna Thomas came out strong in the District 2 Class AA girls tennis singles tournament Thursday, picking up a first-round win at Kirby Park before falling to a seeded opponent in her second match.
Thomas opened the tournament with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 victory over Tunkhannock’s Brianna Grey.
“I was really pleased,” Wyoming Area coach Tiffany Callaio said. “She came out; she was very aggressive; she was going after her shots; she was moving the girl around.”
Thomas did not let a change of pace throw her off her game.
“The girl was a lefty,” Callaio said. “Playing lefties is always tricky because you don’t really practice against lefties, but I thought she handled that well.”
Thomas lost to sixth-seeded Kathleen Fricke from Holy Cross, 6-0, 6-2, in the second round.
Callaio said Thomas will get another shot in the District 2 doubles tournament, which is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at Kirby Park.
Thomas and Lauren Perry, both singles players during Wyoming Area’s march to a second straight team appearance in the district playoffs, will form a doubles team.
“Doubles is interesting because all the singles players can play, too,” Callaio said. “They’ll keep practicing and keep making the transition to doubles.”
The other Wyoming Area entry is more familiar with the nuances of doubles play.
Emily Cheskiewicz and Lea Getz had a strong season as the Warriors number-one doubles team during the regular season.
Thomas was the only singles player from Wyoming Area or Pittston Area to get a win in districts.
Wyoming Area’s Kierstin Grillo was eliminated by MMI Prep’s Jessica Smith, 6-0, 6-0.
Both Pittston Area players drew seeded opponents in the first round of the District 2-4 Class AAA Subregional.
Seventh-seeded Kristi Pearage from Coughlin defeated Sara Swartz, 6-2, 6-2. Sondra Lionetti, the eighth seed from Subregional team champion Abington Heights, topped Jessica Borget, 6-0, 6-1.
