Parish Tennis, 2006
Parish Panthers Girls’ Tennis Team
2006 4A TAPPS STATE CHAMPS!!!
April 2006
Sending four players to state - two singles players, sophomores Molly Plummer and Margaret Edwards; and one doubles team, freshmen Stephanie Crews and Kelly Rathbun - the Panthers put up a great fight to capture this year’s 4A title.
In singles competition, Plummer was the overall No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament as the District 1-4A champion. Edwards, not seeded, was placed in the defending champion Jolee Cook’s, of Garland Christian, side of the draw. Cook, a senior who just recently received a full scholarship to a Division II school in Missouri, proved to be a strong adversary for the young Panthers, as she defeated Edwards in the semis and Plummer in the finals.
In doubles, Crews and Rathbun were also placed as the 2nd seed. Parish had little trouble in the first two rounds, and it looked like the doubles championship was Parish's for the taking. A slow start and inspired play from last year’s team state champion Lubbock Christian had Parish down 3-6, 1-4, and love-30 in the finals. The championship looked out of hand, and disappointment was on a lot of faces.
“The girls got together, settled down and took the remainder of the match one point at a time,” coach Jason Samuels said.
The Panthers did not drop another game, as they finished the match out 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. The team played inspiring tennis and with the support of their teammates, families, and other schools, they came from behind to earn the school’s first State Championship.
Parish's lone entries on the boys’ side, junior Neil Moyes and sophomore Matt Chase, earned the school a fifth place finish by making it to the semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. Chase won his first round match and met last year’s finalist, and nationally ranked junior player, Taylor Soyster in the quarters. Chase gave his best effort, but Soyster proved to be too strong. Neil Moyes, Parish's lone junior representative, put up a great fight and earned a spot in the semifinals against eventual state champion Ryan Schelecter, a senior at Shelton. Schelecter, who has received a full scholarship to play at Utah next year, played phenomenally and showed the composure of a champion.
“I cannot express how proud and happy I am for the team,” coach Samuels said. “They really came together, and the spirit of Parish was very evident in the competition.”
Parish Wins 1st District Championship! April 2006
The Parish tennis team lead by Jr. Neil Moyes and So. Molly Plummer made a very dominating entrance into formal district competition. They out-slugged defending State Champion Lubbock Trinity Christian to earn the overall District team title. Sophomores Matt Chase & Margaret Edwards & Freshmen Stephanie Crews & Kelly Rathbun rounded out the rest of the team vying for a State Championship. In head to head team competition the team has also defeated future 5A opponents Dallas Christian, First Baptist, & Shelton. The team’s future looks very bright with a great influx of middle school talent.
Parish Episcopal School
4101 Sigma Rd.
Dallas, TX 75244
972.239.8011 • 800.909.9081 • Fax 972.991.1237