STATE TENNIS 2018
THORNDALE—If experience and familiarity counts for anything, Landry Lay-well’s silver medal could be transformed into gold.
As the only returning participant from last year’s state tournament, the Thorndale junior has a distinct advantage over her opponents at the 104th UIL state tournament at the Mitchell Tennis Center on the campus of Texas A&M University.
Laywell faces Katelyn Jackson of Joaquin in the first round of the Class 2A girls singles bracket at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The semifinals are set for 3 p.m. Thursday and the finals are 10 a.m. Friday.
In the three tournaments she has participated in this year, Laywell walked away with first place, including district and regional.
“She is very determined to win the championship this year,” said Thorn-dale tennis coach Lisa Von-Goten. “She has worked very hard to improve over the year, playing in tournaments all over Texas.”
Last year, Laywell was the first Thorndale tennis player to qualify for state since 2008 when Kayla Caffey made the trip.
Laywell mined silver after falling to Ryli Ruffin of Mason, 6-3, 6-0 in the 2017 finals.
“My goal was to get to state,” she said. “When I got here, I had a lot of confidence. I played to win.
“My strategy is to outlast my opponent.”
“She stays focused and takes one point at a time,” said Von Goten. “She finds opponents weaknesses and takes advantage of them.”
As she had done in her first two matches, Laywell leapt out early in the finals against Ruffin, surging ahead 2-0 and 3-2 in the first set as a crossing wind kicked up at the Mitchell Center.
However, Ruffin seized control of the match and reeled off 10 straight games including 6-0 in the second and deciding set to sweep out Laywell.
Laywell cruised through the first two rounds while dropping just one game, disposing of Dennum Owens of Centerville 6-0, 6-0 and Jonnah Smith of Wink 6-0, 6-1.
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