Fairfield competes in state co-ed tennis

A foursome of Fairfield tennis players traveled to the Roger Knapp Tennis Center in Des Moines for the state co-ed tournament on Tuesday. Both duos finished the tournament 1-1.

Tess Paton and Garrett Flanagan started things off in the first round with a sweep over North Polk’s Braedynn Batson and Nathan Crabb. Paton and Flanagan rolled 6-2, 6-3 to earn a second-round berth.

The Trojan duo was upended a thrilling second round battle. Paton and Flanagan lost in three sets against Morgan Kathman and Cody Overland of Boone, falling 6-1, 5-7, 1-0(7).

Sydney Wells and Jace Hannes scooped up a win in the preliminary round, knocking off Columbus Catholic’s Chloe Butler and Gavin Gallagher 4-6, 6-2, 1-0(7). After that thriller, the pair was eliminated in a first round matchup against Marion’s Natalee Hartman and Seth Blackford, dropping sets 6-4, 6-0.

Three of the four Trojans were returns from the state doubles and individuals tournaments. Flanagan and Hannes both went 1-2 in boys’ doubles, and Paton was 1-2 in girls’ singles.

It was Paton’s last action as a high school player. She made her mark on the Trojan program with two individual state trips, including a third-place finish last season, and one doubles trip as a freshman.

Wells, Flanagan and Hannes are all juniors and will have one more year on the courts.