Thursday, June 04, 2009
Mubeen, O'Keefe repeat as state tennis champs; Harter, Sarver win
Photo by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times
Malik Mubeen returns a backhand to his Group A championship match opponent Gate City's Chad Sheppard at Radford University Thursday. Mubeen defeated Sheppard 6-0, 6-0 to claim the title.
Photo by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times
Salem's Patrick O'Keefe pumps his fist in his match against James Monroe's Caleb Rapkins during the Group AA championship at Radford University Thursday. O'Keefe defeated Rapkins 6-1, 6-0 to claim the title.
A Group A doubles semifinals, Mubeen and Sanjay Kishore defeated Brian Sham and Tim Goetz of George Mason 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Radford duo will face Dalton Moore and J.T. McConnell of Gate City for the doubles title Saturday. That pair rolled over Perry Lowder and Matthew Cody of Appomattox Regional Governor’s School 6-1, 6-1 in Thursday’s semis.
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O'Keefe has an opportunity to be a four-time state champion after whipping Caleb Rapkins of James Monroe 6-1, 6-0 in the final. O'Keefe won his semifinal earlier in the morning, 6-3, 6-0 over Joey Manilla of Western Albemarle.
Mubeen closed his prep career with a dominating performance, beating Perry Lowder of Appomattox Regional Governor's School 6-0, 6-0 and Tim Sheppard of Gate City 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
Sophomore Kristin Harter of Hidden Valley won her first state singles title, taking the Group AA final 6-3, 6-2 over Jessica Miller of Stuarts Draft. Earlier in the day, Harter defeated Carla Wong of Freedom 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals. Harter was the AA runner-up last year.
Bland County freshman Grace Sarver won the Group A girls title with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Michelle Repper of George Mason. Sarver defeated Jessica Anderson of Middlesex 6-3, 6-2 in a semifinal earlier in the morning.
William Byrd junior Brennan Escobar lost to Rapkins in the AA boys semifinals 6-1, 6-1.
