By Matt Browning

Down 2-5 in the third set, the prospect of winning the Class 3-1A Tennis Doubles Championship seemed dim for Kara Koester and Karlee Osner from Conway Springs. That’s when Koester looked at Osner said it was time to believe. They knew they had the ability to knock off Juliet Bartels & Keira Knoflicek of Kansas City Christian, but it would take the mental fortitude and toughness to get the job done. Koester and Osner tied the score 5-5, then 6-6 before winning the state title tiebreaker 7-2. This was the Cardinals their third doubles title in school history.

“When we were down, we were talking after every point,” Osner said. “We said we could do this. We knew we couldn’t back down.”

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Osner and Koester’s championship is the family connection. All three of the Cardinals doubles champions contain a granddaughter of Lawrence and Velma Koester. Abby Koester and Chelsea Ebenkamp were the first state champions (Ebenkamp’s mom was also a Koester). The next year Chelsea Ebenkamp and Stacy Sones won the championship (Ebenkamp’s mom was a Koester) and this year Koester and Osner were state champs (Osner’s mom was a Koester). Five out of the six state champions from Conway Springs are Koesters.

“It was very special,” Osner said. “My mom’s mom is in love with tennis and she goes to as many tournaments as she can.”

Conway Springs’ coach, Chris Bellar, said Osner and Koester never seemed rattled or worried about where they were in their match. “They always seemed calm and in control,” Bellar said. “Having good chemistry with your doubles partner pays off when the pressure is on.”

Class 5A

 In Class 5A, Kapaun Mount Carmel defeated Salina South by three points and Andover by four points. The Crusaders’ Clara Whitaker defeated teammate Reagan Boleski 6-0, 6-0 in singles. Paige Stranghoner of Bishop Carroll took third, defeating Callie Sanborn of Salina Central, 6-2, 6-1.

“This was the most cohesively bonded team I have coached in a long time,” Kapaun coach Kathy Schulte said. “They would go out and get ice cream together after practice and do stuff like that. It’s tough to find six girls who want to be together like that. They were motivated to win after the disappointing loss to Bishop Carroll (at state) last year.”

McPherson’s doubles team of Taylor Bruce and CeAnna Allen of McPherson defeated Molly Book and Madi Biondo of St. James Academy in the championship match. Ark City’s Jacey Arnett and Ellie Messenger defeated Bishop Carroll’s Hope and Heidi Lubbers, 6-4, 6-3 for third place in doubles.

Class 4A

 Wichita Collegiate rolled to a 22-point victory over Buhler at the Class 4A Tournament. The Spartans’ Emma Mantovani defeated Annabelle Adams of Circle 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the singles championship match. Mantovani’s teammate, Sonya Murphy, defeated Isabella Sebits of Wichita Trinity, 6-3, 6-3 in the third place match. In the doubles championship match, Kylie Aufdengarten and Rylie Rusk of Wellington defeated Sallie Lair and Lily Conrad of Wichita Collegiate, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. Collegiate’s No. 2 doubles team of Stephanie Gentile and Sophie Yoakum defeated Payton DaMeyer and Alex Hutton of Buhler for third place.