BENTONVILLE -- Sarah Schneringer wants to be part of the inaugural Bentonville West girls tennis team, and she'll have the opportunity to do that when she takes part in a tryout later this month.
In the meantime, the rising freshman continues to focus on herself and work on her tennis game, no matter how long it takes.
Serena Smith Junior Open state tennis tournament
at Memorial Park, Bentonville, and Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers
Friday’s results
Boys’ 18 singles
(2) Hans Corbell d. Neil Balasekaran 6-0, 6-2; Mauricio Ramirez d. Marek Swieter 6-0, 6-0; (4) Walter Simpson d. Seth Grady 6-3. 6-1; (3) AJ Rogers d. Montgomery Mathews 6-2, 6-3.
Boys’ 16 singles
(2) Jonathon Hart d. Tucker Harris 6-1, 6-3; Sid Ramesh d. Joseph Buchholz 6-3, 6-0; Orest Los d. (4) Tyler Angtuaco 6-4, 6-2; Will Kistler d. Daniel Riabuchin 6-0, 6-0.
Boys’ 14 Singles
(2) Vikram Balasekaran d. Ian Phillips, default; David Cordero d. Austin Rodriguez 6-0, 6-1; Alexander Brandt d. (4) Campbell Coleman 6-2, 6-3; Jackson Ritchey d. Sankalp Pandey 6-2, 6-0
Boys’ 12 Singles
Jack Isola d. Clayton Vinson 6-4, 6-2; Spencer Holloway d. (3) Michael Mathias 6-4, 6-2; Jacob Nordin d. Barrett Diebold 6-1, 6-2; Zackary Tappana d. Harrison Deer 6-2, 6-2.
Boys’ 10 Singles
Bennington Gifford d. Mateo Garcia Castro 4-1, 4-0; Aiden Matthews d. Konner King 4-2, 4-1.
Girls’ 18 Singles
Cameryn Cupelli d. Avery Hargrove 6-3; 6-2; Anna Mauromoustakos d. Alison Burgess (WD)
Girls’ 16 Singles
Mary Houston d. Kelsey Shiohira 6-0, 6-0; Sarah Schneringer d. Rachna Paruchuri 6-2, 6-2; Brooke Killingsworth d. Mckenzie Bing 6-1, 6-0.
Girls’ 14 Singles
Caroline Long d. Gwyneth Gifford 6-7, 6-1, 1-0; Cydney Rogers d. Olivia Gaston 6-1, 6-0
Girls’ 12 Singles
Leena cashman d. Mary Claire Brandt 6-1, 6-2; Katelyn Long d. Ashlyn Pursel 6-3, 6-3; Mackenzie Downer d. Jaymie Angtuaco 6-4, 7-6; Audrey Lord d. Darby Allison 6-3, 6-2.
Girls’ 10 Singles
Glennah Langford d. Isabella Parsons 4-0, 4-0.
Boys’ 18 Doubles
Anderson/Moisson d. (2) Rogers/Simpson 8-3; Ramirez/Ramos d. Kopek/Ledbetter 8-1; Balasekaran/Hayes d. Henry/Mathews 8-6; (1) Bridges/Corbell d. Los/Swieter 8-0
Boys’ 14 Doubles
Brandt/Coleman d. Cordero/Pandey 8-2; Brandt/Coleman d. Gentry/Joubert 8-4; Balasekaran/Schweitzer d. Childress/Riabuchin 8-3.
Boys’ 12 Doubles
Holloway/Nordin d. Hardin/Vinson 8-1; Diebold/Tappana d. Deer/Vinson 8-6.
Girls’ 12 Doubles
Bohnert/Cervantes d. Long/Pursel 8-0; Angtuaco/Deer d. Allison/Weston 8-6; Angtuaco/Deer d. Long/Pursel 8-0; Bohnert/Cervantes d. Brandt/Cashman 8-2.
"I'm playing pretty much every day and playing between three and seven hours a day," Schneringer said. "On the weekends, I'm playing in tournaments.
"Being on that first tennis team, we'll be setting the standards for those that are coming up. I know some younger girls and guys that are wanting to try out for the team in the future, and we need to set the expectations. I already know two or three that will be on the team, so I can't wait."
Schneringer took a positive step Friday afternoon during the Serena Smith Junior Open state tennis tournament, which takes place this weekend at Memorial Park and the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. She moved up to the girls' 16 singles division for the tournament and came away with a 6-2, 6-2, first-round victory over Rachna Paruchuri, who could be her teammate at West next month.
The victory moved Schneringer into a 9 a.m. quarterfinal match against Katelyn Joubert, who will be on Bentonville High's team in the fall.
"It's always hard playing against your friends," she said. "But I've been in enough tournaments to know I can handle that kind of competition."
Schneringer spent most of her summer not knowing who would be her coach at West since Hunter Alexander wasn't hired until the June 20 school board meeting, just before the two-week athletic dead period. That meant she's had to do much of her work by herself.
Most of the work has been centered toward improvement on her backhand, and the work has paid off in tournaments.
"I've been working trying to get my backhand on the same level with my forehand, so it doesn't look like I have an obvious weakness," Schneringer said. "My coach tells me that both swings are now on the same level now, and I played well in this match.
"I want to be able to play doubles and singles this fall. With me being a freshman, that's a lot to take in because I'll be playing against a lot of good girls, and I'm hoping I can come away with a winning record."
Sports on 07/16/2016