Barstow doubles team captures Missouri state championship in tennis

Barstow seniors Janie King and Amelia Smith ended their high school tennis careers with a bang on Saturday at the Missouri state girls tennis tournament.

King and Smith defended their Missouri Class 1 doubles championship with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Hadley Hilburn and Heidi Shelley of Kennett at the Cooper Tennis Complex.

“I think it was a lot more fun this year,” King said. “It’s a great way to finish high school tennis.”

King and Smith won all of their matches in the tournament in straight sets (the first round was played with an eight-game pro-set scoring).

“I was more nervous this year,” Smith said. “But it feels just as good. And in this last match I was actually a lot more relaxed. We are so comfortable on the court together. We trust each other both on the back line and at the net.”

The doubles championship ended a memorable weekend for Barstow, which finished second in the Class 1 team tournament to John Burroughs.

“This was a great way to end a fun weekend,” Barstow coach Tom O’Brien said. “Amelia played the game of her life in the championship. What a time for her to that. And Janie was Janie.

“They work so well together. Amelia is so steady and helps to set up Janie who is such a great finisher.”

King and Smith were the only KC area champions.

Norte Dame de Sion’s Margo Gerke and Catherine Henne made it to the Class 2 doubles championship match with a three-set win over Alexandra Rogers and Riley Kelley of Liberty in the semifinals. But Gerke and Henne fell in the finals to Columbia Rock Bridge’s Faith Wright and Katherine Dudley, 6-2, 6-1.

Gerke fell just short of winning with a pair of Henne sisters. Gerke won a state title with Michaela as a freshman.

Liberty’s Rogers and Kelley ended fourth in Class 2 doubles.

Barstow’s Hannah Tadros and Park Hill South’s Eva Kresovic had the best area showings in singles.

Tadros finished third in Class 1, while Kresovic was third in Class 2.

Tadros lost in the semifinals to John Burroughs’ Gaby Thornton and came back to win her third-place match against Emily Buck of Excelsior Springs.

Kresovic lost to three-time state champion Caroline Pozo in the semifinals, finishing with a win against Mary Frances Hose of Rock Bridge.

This story was originally published October 15, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Barstow doubles team captures Missouri state championship in tennis."