WOOSTER–Orange freshman Genevieve Hayden finished as the OHSAA Division II state runner-up after falling in the championship match on Friday at Wooster College.
Hayden had an excellent tournament as she won three straight matches to advance to the finals, where she fell to Bexley’s Amiya Bowles, who claimed her third state championship, 6-4, 6-1.
“In our program, we say to the aggressor go the spoils, and I think that was really the case out here today,” said Orange coach Rich Boles. “All credit to Bowles, who has some of the best defensive skills I have ever seen in high school tennis.”
Hayden advanced to the finals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Eaton’s Mallory Hitchcock.
After falling behind in the second set, 3-0, Hayden rallied to seal her win and advance to the championship match.
Strategically, Boles said that Hayden was focused on hitting swinging volleys in order to be aggressive and speed up the game.
“The run that she made to get up there was pretty remarkable for a kid of that age,” Boles said. “I am really proud of her overall.”
