Effingham Wins Apollo Conference Tennis Title

Pictured left to right are, Lydia Kull, Caroline Kull, Skyler Schafer, Chloe Funneman, Lauryn Douthit, Riley Seachrist and Riley Arend.

The Effingham High School girls tennis squad won the Apollo Conference Tennis Tournament championship during the weekend. The doubles were contested Friday with the singles Saturday.

The girls won four of the six singles championships along with a second and a fourth place finish. In doubles play, all three Hearts doubles squads won titles.

EHS tallied 57 points followed by Charleston 39, Mattoon 35, Mount Zion 32, Mahomet-Seymour 20 and Lincoln 15.

"This time last year, we came up only two points shy of the conference title behind Mount Zion," said EHS Coach Erik Williamson. "The girls have made it a point to come back this year and finish as champions. After a great season so far, the girls were determined to keep it going this weekend.

"It has been a privilege to coach this year. The girls had some amazing matches. There were some great comebacks and some dominating wins. They've worked so hard and I couldn't be happier to see them be able to celebrate that hard work this weekend."

In doubles play, Chloe Funneman and Lauryn Douthit swept through the No. 1 spot to win the title. The pair opened with a bye then downed Charleston's Jackson/Thomas, 6-4, 6-3. That put them into the championship against Mattoon's Eastin/Brown where they won 6-1, 7-6(3).

Third place went to Mount Zion's Roberts/Frommett.

In the No. 2 doubles, Skyler Schafer and Caroline Kull were the champions. The pair had a first-round bye then downed Mahomet-Seymour's Bao/Kesavadas, 6-1, 6-0. That put them into the championship against Charleston's Rudibaugh/Orlik where they won, 6-4, 6-2.

Third place was claimed by Bao/Kesavadas of Mahomet-Seymour.

In the No. 3 spot, Riley Arend and Lydia Kull won at No. 3. The pair drew the opening round bye then downed Lincoln's Heft/Nelson, 6-1, 6-1. The duo then won over Mattoon's Stortzum/Borntreger, 7-6, 6-0.

Third place went to Sibernaller/Hackett from Charleston.

In the No. 1 singles match, Mount Zion's Paige Willer was the winner downing Mattoon's Kyah Eastin, 6-2, 6-0.

Effingham's Chloe Funneman won her opener over Mahomet-Seymour's Annie Bao, 6-2, 6-3 then fell to Eastin, 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-1. That dropped Funneman into the third place contest where she fell to Rachel Thomas of Charleston, 7-6(2), 6-3 to take fourth place.

In the No. 2 singles, Douthit picked up the victory with a first round bye. Douthit defeated Michelle Roberts of Mount Zion, 6-2, 6-1 putting her into the title contest. She then downed Mahomet-Seymour's Lauren Henderson, 6-1, 6-3 for the title. The third place contest went to Roberts of Mount Zion.

Skyler Schafer then claimed the No. 3 singles title. She opened with a first round bye then downed Mattoon's Amari Brown, 6-1, 6-1 before beating Mount Zion's Brenna Frommelt, 6-0, 6-4 for the title. Mattoon's Bella Sibenaller took third place.

Riley Arend won the No. 4 singles crown. Arend had an opening round bye then defeated Mount Zion's Emma Comerford, , 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. Arend won the title over Charleston's Alexis Orlik, 6-4, 6-2. Third place went to Mattoon's Emily Stortzum.

The No. 5 singles was claimed by Effingham's Caroline Kull. Kull had the opening round bye then blanked Lincoln's Brooke Montcalm, 6-0, 6-0 before beating Charleston's Evie Rudibaugh, 6-2, 6-1 for the championship.

Riley Seachrist finished second at the No. 6 singles. Seachrist had an opening round bye then beat Mount Zion's Caroline Baker, 6-1, 7-6(1). She then fell to Charleston's Meleah Hackett, 6-4, 6-1 to take second. Third went to Baker from Mount Zion.

"All Apollo award winners were voted on by the coaches today," said Williamson. "There were nine winners and Chloe Funneman, Lauryn Douthit and Skyler Schafer won all-conference honors. This marks three straight years for  Funneman and two in a row for Schafer."