SHS TENNIS: Heading into district play, Spartans want share of title

Taylor Henken and Kyla Anderson teamed up to become Sumner High’s first league champion girls doubles team since 1998.

The pair entered the May 9 and 10 South Puget Sound League 2A tournament as the No. 1 seed and then won it.

Spartan teammates Brittany Reid and Jasmine Babcock entered as the seventh seed and finished fifth.

Both doubles teams were scheduled to play in the subdistrict tournament Saturday at North Kitsap High School, trying to advance to the district tournament, which began Tuesday at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Also playing in the league tournament were Libby Reum and Nicole Bassen in singles. Unfortunately, coach Chris Heacox reported, Reum hurt herself playing in the first match and had to injury default. Bassen defeated the No. 7 seed from Washington, before losing her next two matches, eliminating her from the tournament.

The Spartans’ 9-3 league record should have earned them the SPSL 2A championship, but as Heacox explained that is not the case.

“Unfortunately, the tennis commissioner decided we would not play any more of the rained out matches, and would declare that there is no league champion this season,” Heacox said. “White River and Washington finished at 8-3 and had a chance to tie us for the championship. As of right now, the SPSL 2A will not recognize anyone as the champion.”

Heacox said he is working with athletic director Tim Thomsen and the league to have a co-championship that would recognize Washington, White River and Sumner.