Photo Provided Pictured in the 2019 Magnolia High School tennis team.

The Magnolia Blue Eagles Girls Tennis team has 12 girls out this season, after a very successful season which included the WVSSAC Class-A/AA Regional Tennis Championship, and a second-place in the doubles event.

However, losing Logan Riggs to graduation will hurt quite a lot, as will losing head coach Jesse Robinson. Robinson brought Magnolia Girls Tennis back from the dead, after some time without a tennis team. Her guidance led the Eagles to a regional championship. With the loss of Riggs and Robinson, and a couple players not returning, it will make it hard to repeat last year’s feat.

However, back is Reagan Hale, who was Riggs’ partner in the state runner-up doubles. She is back, along with state qualifier Clara Moore. With these two and returning letter-winners Bethany Brown and Whitney Yoho, the season looks promising.

New MHS Girls Tennis head coach Heather Hale has some young ladies ready to contribute in sophomores Gloria Hernandez, Emmalee Estep, Jada Dennis, Diana Hernandez and Ella Heddleson.

Freshmen who will look to grow up in a hurry are Audrey Baker, Emerson Barcus and Riley Fletcher.

“Brown looks to take over the No. 1 seed, while Yoho, Reagan and Moore will look to be either No. 2 and No. 3 and No. 4 seed in singles,” stated Coach Hale.

“In doubles it looks like it will be Yoho and Brown, Moore and Reagan, Baker and Hernandez,” she added. “I’m looking forward to a great season, and I see so much potential with these girls.”

Magnolia opened the season March 19 at Oak Glen and hosted Morgantown Trinity at 4 p.m. on March 21 at New Martinsville’s Bruce Park Tennis Courts.

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Magnolia Tennis Schedule

March 19 Away Oak Glen

March 21 Home Trinity

March 25 Away Parkersburg South

March 26 Home St. Clairsville

March 28 Away St. Marys

April 1 Home Ritchie County

April 2 Away Wheeling Central

April 4 Away St. Clairsville

April 8 Away Weir

April 10 Home St. Marys

April 11 Away Linsly

April 13 Away East Fairmont (TBA)

April 18 Away Ritchie County

April 20 Away North Marion (noon)

April 23 Away OVAC Tournament (8:30 am)

April 24 Away OVAC Tournament (8:30 am)

April 29 Away Steubenville Catholic

May 9 Away State Tennis Tournament (TBA)

(All matches start at 4 pm unless noted.)