Falcons Claim Tennis Titles

Severna Park’s tennis team claimed dual 3A state championships during the state meet over Memorial Day weekend, placing four entries in the finals and winning the overall team title for the first time in program history.

All five of the Falcons’ state qualifying entries reached the semifinal round at least, and all five placed in the top three of their respective competitions.

The boys doubles duo of Koby Bragg and Gavin Gerard scored victory in their bracket, defeating their opponents from Marriotts Ridge in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Three other entrants earned runner-up finishes: Brynn Bilnoski in girls singles, twin sisters Emerson and Ava Scott in girls doubles, and Ty Maddox and Lily Wells in mixed doubles.

Rounding out the scoring for Severna Park was boys singles entrant Colin King, who won the 3A third-place match. The Falcons scored 25 team points, beating Thomas S. Wootton’s 21. It rounded out a season of dominance where Severna Park’s 11-senior-strong contingent won the in-season county championship, the postseason county championship, and the regional championship to go with their state honors.

“Our players work year-round. … They are dedicated and the hard work paid off. We have an extremely competitive bracket,” said Severna Park coach Emily Bear. “Our team has amazing camaraderie and a support system of parents who contribute tremendously to our success.”

In the 4A ranks, Broadneck settled for second by a single point in the team standings, scoring 12 points to Winston Churchill’s 13. The teams flip-flopped from last season, when Broadneck won by a single point, and the two teams shared the title two years ago.

Hadley Crooks and Gigi Garner claimed victory in the girls doubles, defeating their opponents from Richard Montgomery 6-2, 6-4. The mixed doubles pair of Anissa Jean-Claude and Ryan Sar placed second in their competition on a super tiebreak 10-8, after they had split the two full sets with their opponents from Quince Orchard.