SEATTLE — Months after qualifying for state, Sequim doubles team Matthew Richards and Brandon Payne finally compete at the boys state tennis tournament starting today at Nordstrom Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Washington.
Richards and Payne took fourth at the district tournament in November.
“The layoff between the fall and the spring makes things tough,” Sequim coach Justine Wagner said this week.
“They have not had the opportunity to play any tournaments as they are both involved in soccer.
“They are both competitive kids, though, so I think when put into competition that match play will come back to them quickly.”
Payne, a senior, and Richards, a sophomore, started practicing last week after Sequim’s soccer team fell short of the state tournament by one game.
They open state against Coleman Schnelby and Erik Hurson of Ellensburg.
Despite the Wolves’ layoff, Wagner has high hopes for the duo.
“I expect that they will do well,” Wagner said.
“I have seen many of the top competitors play and they are very good, but Brandon and Matthew are tough. They want to win.”
