Perrysburg’s Penelope Giammarco delivers a serve in her consolation championship match at first singles on Tuesday. (Nicholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
PERRYSBURG — Perrysburg’s Penelope Giammarco claimed the consolation championship in first singles at the NLL Championship on Tuesday to highlight a hectic day created by thunderstorms.
“I think I played pretty well today,” Giammarco said. “I wish my first match went a little bit differently, but she’s a good player, and I knew it was going to be a tough match going in. Other than that, I think I played great in my last two matches.”
With heavy rain in the area, all of the action on Tuesday was moved indoors, which put both the Buckeye and Cardinal Divisions in slow motion.
Due to that, the Yellow Jackets won’t conclude action until Wednesday when the second doubles pairing of Erin Ross and Ava Geffe compete for the championship against Anthony Wayne on the indoor courts at 8 a.m.
Prior to action concluding Tuesday, Perrysburg’s first doubles pair of Autumn Wittenmyer and Campbell Looser claimed a consolation championship in the Buckeye Division.
After falling to Sylvania Northview in a tough, three-set match, the duo knocked off Findlay 6-0, 6-0 before defeating Whitmer 6-2, 6-0 in the consolation title tilt.
Perrysburg’s Madi Watkins and Lillith Dunn both advanced to the championship match in second and third singles, respectively, before falling to Anthony Wayne’s Jillian To and Cora Langenderfer.
Watkins, a junior who was a two-time NLL champion in first doubles, is in her first year playing singles, and she only lost to Anthony Wayne in NLL play.
“Madi’s powerful serve and aggressive net play, honed by her doubles background, has really helped her in the transition,” Perrysburg head coach Kelly Carter said. “She’s had a great year.”
Dunn competed on the varsity squad for the first time this year as a sophomore, and she also only lost to Anthony Wayne in NLL play.
Carter said Dunn’s consistent play and willingness to come to the net has made her a strong addition to the team and has showcased her versatility.
Giammarco, meanwhile, dropped her opening match to Anthony Wayne’s Mara Boyd, but rebounded to defeat Findlay and Whitmer in the consolation bracket.
In addition to Watkins transitioning to singles and Dunn’s elevation to varsity this year, Perrysburg also had to create two new doubles teams with players who hadn’t played together before.
“We’re so proud of what we’ve done this year,” Carter said. “We only had two returners, and the team gelled really well. We’re playing our best tennis right now.
Bobcats open Cardinal Division play
Bowling Green’s girls tennis team played several opening round matches before Tuesday’s cutoff, highlighted by Julia Barnett’s dominant opening-round win at first singles. They will conclude action on Wednesday. Stayed tuned to Sent-Trib.com for full details afterwards.
