[Editor’s Note: Updated to provide more details about Janson Pederson’s tournament]
SEATTLE — The Sequim tennis doubles team Karen Chan and Cheyenne Sokkappa finished eighth at the girls Class 2A state tournament Saturday at Nordstrom Tennis Center at the University of Washington.
Chan and Sokkappa fell 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 to W. F. West’s Kyla Richards Isabel Vander Stoep in their final match.
“They did really well. Way better than anyone expected before the tournament,” Wolves coach Justine Wagner said.
“They didn’t play doubles together one time until the league tournament but they blossomed during the postseason.
“They both have a very light-hearted attitude and didn’t get upset with each other. Their skills complement each other, too: Cheyenne has a huge overhead serve and Karen is very consistent.”
Sokkappa and Chan advanced to the fifth/eighth-place match by defeating Lauren McDevitt and Cailin O’Malley of Selah 6-4, 6-1 earlier Saturday.
The Sequim duo started the tournament with a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Taylor Harris and Simone Hall of Sehome on Friday, but bounced back to stay alive for a medal with a three-set triumph, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, against Pullman’s Alexa Yadama and Lizzie George.
Pederson loses two
Port Angeles singles player Janson Pederson dropped two matches and was eliminated from the 2A boys tournament Friday.
Pederson fell 6-0, 6-0 in his opening match to Selah’s Jared Kieser.
He was bounced from the bracket 6-1, 6-1 by Sehome’s Brady Anderson.
“Janson ran into a couple of buzzsaws his first two rounds,” Port Angeles coach Gil Stockton said.
“Janson played hard, with quiet determination, but was simply outclassed by players who have focused on tennis from an early age.
“For a young man who took up tennis as a freshman . . . to reach the state championship as a junior attests to his character and athletic ability.
“This was a terrific experience to get under his belt and, as he will progress this coming year, he looks forward to a better result his next opportunity.”
