Plant's girls are poised to win their third consecutive Class 4A championship after Blair Martin and Gabby Rodriguez qualified for the team singles finals and both doubles teams advanced Wednesday.
The Panthers were tied for first place with at least one team at the end of the first day of 4A competition at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, according to coach Margaret Drumsta.
“We really upheld the standard we have here at Plant,” Drumsta said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better showing.”
Martin dropped only three sets in her No. 1 singles matches Wednesday, defeating Emily Schofield of Riverview 6-0, 6-1 then Pierina Imparato of Cypress Bay 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals.
In the final today, Martin will get a rematch against Winter Park’s Joulia Likhanskaia, who defeated her 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of last year’s team singles competition.
She’ll be joined in the finals by Rodriguez, a sophomore who won 6-1, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-0 in her No. 3 singles matches.
Wharton’s Samuel Chaffin advanced to the semifinals of the boys 4A singles tournament, earning a bye in the first round then winning his quarterfinal 6-2, 6-1 over Mandarin’s Andrey Majkic.
In Class 2A, Jesuit and Academy of the Holy Names were also looking to take home some gold in the final round today.
Jesuit’s Jordan Nasser and Alex Crosby advanced to the finals of the team singles competition, while both of their doubles teams moved on to the semifinals.
The Tigers finished Wednesday with seven points, nearly double their four-point output in last year’s state finals appearance.
“We’re in the hunt,” Jesuit coach Joe Curtis said. “But it’s going to be a task to win.”
Holy Names’ Daniela Nasser and Caroline Lozo also won their first two matches in team singles competition to take their place in today’s finals.