First Varsity Wins Highlight St. Joseph-Ogden’s 8-1 Triumph Over Schlarman Academy

By Fred Kroner

It was a night of firsts for three members of the St. Joseph-Ogden girls’ tennis team on Wednesday (Sept. 11).

Earning their first varsity wins in singles were Audrey Benoit (8-5 at No. 5) and Audri Helfrich (8-0 at No. 6).

In doubles, the No. 3 duo of Claire Hartman and Merial Yeager earned their first varsity win together. For Yeager, it was her first varsity win.

The notable successes came in a dual meet at the Danville Tennis Center against Schlarman Academy. SJ-O won 8-1 to register its third consecutive win and improve its overall record to 4-3.

Joining Benoit and Helfrich as winners in singles were Sami Kelso at No. 1 (9-8, 10-5), Madison Clampitt at No. 2 (8-1) and Madison Farber at No. 4 (8-6).

Other Spartan winners in doubles were Lily Rice and Makennah Hamilton at No. 1 (8-1) along with Sara Kearney and Ella Dietiker at No. 2 (8-2).

Kerney and Dietiker are 4-1 for the season. Rice and Hamilton are 5-5. The team’s winningest players in singles are Farber (4-2) and Clampitt (5-5).

SJ-O won every match on Monday (Sept. 9) and left Gibson City with a 5-0 win in a meet against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.

In singles, Kelso defeated Natalie Aberle 8-2 and Clampitt topped A. Steidinger 8-0.

In doubles, Rice and Hamilton combined for an 8-2 victory at No. 1 doubles.

At No. 2, Dietiker and Kearney won 8-5. At No. 3, Farber and Ainsley Rhoton prevailed 8-1.

SJ-O returns to action on Thursday (Sept. 19) at Atkins Tennis Center against Pontiac.