A state championship made it back to Wylie High School on Friday courtesy of sophomore Hope Willis who claimed the crown in girls’ singles at the UIL Class 5A State Tennis Championships in San Antonio.

After a first-round bye, Willis made her way through the bracket with three consecutive straight set victories in capturing the championship. In the title match, she defeated Sara Shelhamer from Amarillo High, the same opponent she defeated in the Region 1 final a week earlier in Lubbock, this time in San Antonio 6-4, 6-1.

The state championship caps off an impressive year for Willis, a year where she also helped lead the Bulldogs to the state championship match in team tennis back in October. Her spring season saw Hope go undefeated, claiming championships at the district, regional and state level.

A big congratulations also goes out to the WHS mixed doubles duo of Steven Cowling and Kate Delgado who represented Bulldog Nation at the state tournament. Cowling and Delgado made it to the state quarterfinals, falling to eventual state champions Aaditt Rishi and Addison Rosser from Frisco Lebanon Trail. 6-2, 2-6, 3-6. The first set was the only set that the champs dropped during the tournament.

WYLIE TENNIS
UIL CLASS 5A STATE TOURNAMENT

GIRLS SINGLES
Round of 16
Hope Willis (Wylie), bye

Quarterfinals
Willis (Wylie) d. Shriya Aviur (Frisco Independence) 7-5, 6-4

Semifinals
Willis (Wylie) d. Khloe Wade (Tyler High) 6-4, 6-2

Class 5A State Championship
Willis (Wylie) d. Sara Shelhamer (Amarillo High) 6-4, 6-1

MIXED DOUBLES
Round of 16
Steven Cowling/Kate Delgado (Wylie) d. Dylan Berthold/Lydia Ou (Cedar Park) 6-2, 6-2

Quarterfinals
Aaditt Rishi/Addison Rosser (Frisco Lebanon Trail) d. Cowling/ Delgado (Wylie) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3