Golf, tennis players would have made Tri-Cities dream teams in 2020 spring season

This spring would have been interesting when it came to local high school tennis.

For starters, last year’s top boys player, Walla Walla’s Etienne Chailott, was not coming back this year because he was a foreign exchange student.

Another standout, Kennewick freshman Jackson Clary, was turning out for track and field this spring as a sophomore.

Still, there was plenty of talent ready to take the courts this spring — including Hanford freshman Sonny Bravo, and Kamiakin fresh Isaac Contreras, who were being counted on by their coaches in key lineup spots.

On the girls’ side, three of the best singles players in the MCC were back in Kennewick’s April Buckingham, Kamiakin’s Molly Kirkham and Richland’s Ashley Tonthat.

Here’s a look at what would have been the region’s best had we got to see high school tennis this spring:

Boys tennis team

▪ Abraham Alvarez, sr., Othello: Was part of the top-seeded boys doubles team in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. Was also named first-team All-CWAC.

▪ Braxton Bedoya, sr., Pasco: In 2019, as a junior, Bedoya was an honorable mention selection for the Bulldogs.

▪ Ryley Cramer, sr., Southridge: Top returning honorable mention MCC all-conference player.

▪ Peter Felicijan, sr., Prosser: Second-team All-CWAC selection also competed at the State 2A tournament last season.

▪ Blake Linde, sr., Kamiakin: The No. 1 singles player for the Braves was second-team All-MCC player last season.

▪ Ethan Morrill, sr., Connell: First-team All-SCAC East last season in doubles, who also competed at 1A state tournament in 2019.

▪ Taylor Wagar, jr., Richland: The Bomber played well enough to be named second-team All-MCC.

Honorable mention

Sonny Bravo, fr., Hanford; Wesley Chen, sr., Kamiakin; Isaac Contreras, fr., Kamiakin; Andrew Tran, so., Kamiakin; Aaron Villarreal, so., Othello.

Girls tennis team

▪ April Buckingham, sr., Kennewick: Was the top returning player from Mid-Columbia Conference last season, when she was first-team all-conference. The left-hander is headed to Lewis-Clark State College to play tennis.

▪ Julissa Cantu, sr., Othello: A first-team standout for the All-Central Washington Athletic Conference tennis team as a junior, she played in the 2A state tournament in girls doubles.

▪ Sabryna Horton, sr., Walla Walla: Second-team all-star selection for the MCC last spring as a junior.

▪ Camri Iverson, sr., Chiawana: Second-team all-star selection for the MCC last spring as a junior.

▪ Molly Kirkham, sr., Kamiakin: First-team All-MCC standout who qualified for the 3A state tournament. She was the Braves’ No. 1 singles player last year on a team that went 8-1 last season. Plans on playing tennis at EWU.

▪ Janet Nunez, jr., Wahluke: Competed at 1A state tournament last spring, while also being a first-team All-SCAC selection while just a sophomore.

▪ Ashley Tonthat, jr., Richland: Standout athlete was first-team MCC as a sophomore tennis player last spring, and a first-team MCC soccer player as a junior last fall.

Honorable mention

Janeisse Alvarez, sr., Othello; McKailee Beck, sr., Chiawana; Lisa Chung, sr., Kamiakin; Alyssa Freeman, sr., Othello; Macy Knight, sr., Connell; Jacey Naef, sr., Connell.

Top Golfers

Given that the Mid-Columbia is filled with great spring, summer and fall weather — as well as some very good golf courses — it should come as no surprise that we have some outstanding golfers.

And we start ‘em young.

The youth programs are solid with rising stars, and there are more on the way.

Othello senior Patrick Azevedo was likely going to be the boys’ major star this season. He had won a state title as a freshman, and he’s already signed to play at the University of Wyoming beginning this fall.

On the girls’ side, coaches were expecting a trio of incoming freshmen — Pasco’s Jillian Breedlove, Kamiakin’s Grace Gintner, and Southridge’s Jillian Hui — to make a huge splash this spring.

The three have been tearing it up in the junior programs.

Still, it’s hard to displace someone on the first team when all we have to go on is previous high school performance. Yet I think local golf enthusiasts need to know these three youngsters’ names for the coming years.

Here is a look at this year’s “what-could’ve-been” best high school golfers had we had a season:

Boys golf team

▪ Tyler Andersen, sr., Hanford: Was a second-team All-Mid-Columbia Conference selection in 2019 as a junior. Headed to Columbia Basin College this fall to golf.

▪ Patrick Azevedo, sr., Othello: He won the Class 2A state title as a freshman, placed fifth as a soph, and third as a junior. Headed to the University of Wyoming this fall to golf for the Cowboys.

▪ Tommy Beason, sr., Kamiakin: Was a first-team All-MCC selection as a junior in 2019. Helped lead Braves to three consecutive MCC team titles, and he played in the state 3A tournament his first three seasons.

▪ Evan Johnson, so., Richland: A first-team all-MCC selection last year as just a freshman.

▪ Rocco Parrish, sr., Grandview: Second-team all-CWAC last year as a junior, he’s was a standout quarterback the past few seasons for the Greyhounds. Signed to play for the CBC men’s golf team this fall.

▪ Carter Sheets, jr., Richland: Was the MCC’s player of the year for boys as a sophomore in 2019.

▪ Rylan Simanton, sr., Kennewick: As a junior in 2019, he was a first-team All-MCC selection, as voted on by the coaches. Placed 22nd at the 2019 3A state tournament. Headed to CBC this fall to play for Hawks.

Honorable mention

Skylar Arneson, jr., Hanford; Baylor Beauchamp, so., Kennewick; Kevin Brunson, sr., Southridge; Turner Clayton, sr., Hanford; Clayton German, jr., Kamiakin; Braden Rew, jr., Richland; Nathan Roosma, sr., Othello.

Girls golf team

▪ Megan Fullmer, jr., Kamiakin: Second-team All-Mid-Columbia Conference all-star last year as a sophomore.

▪ Chalise King, sr., Chiawana: Selected to the first team on the 2019 All-MCC golf team. Competed at 4A state tournament last year.

▪ Janae Martinez, sr., Pasco: Was a second-team All-MCC selection as a junior in 2019. Will be playing golf this fall at Columbia Basin College.

▪ Angela Park, so., Southridge: Was the MCC’s Golfer of the Year in 2019, while only a freshman. Placed sixth in the Class 3A state tournament last year.

▪ Maggie Rickman, sr., Pasco: Was a second-team All-MCC selection as a junior in 2019. Competed in the Class 4A state tournament last year.

▪ Paige Sommerville, sr., Chiawana: A first-team pick by coaches for the MCC all-conference team in 2019 as a junior. Will be playing this fall for Montana Tech.

▪ Tatum York-Bement, jr., Kamiakin: Was a first-team All-MCC selection for 2019 as a sophomore. Placed 14th at the state 3A tournament last year.

Honorable mention

Jillian Breedlove, fr., Pasco; EllaRaley Eick, jr., Hanford; Grace Gintner, fr., Kamiakin; Jillian Hui, fr., Southridge; Hope Lawrence, jr., Southridge; Madison McClannahan, jr., Hermiston; Bella McDermott, so., Hanford; Regan Schumacher, sr., Kamiakin; Alissa Slocum, sr., Kamiakin.

This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 3:29 PM.