Alex Clerihew of Denton and Marti Gay of Ryan advanced to the Class 4A Region I tennis tournament on Tuesday.
Clerihew advanced as the District 4-4A runner-up in boys singles, while Gay was the runner-up in girls singles.
Clerihew faced the No. 2 player in the state, Wichita Falls Rider’s Conner Curry, in the final and fell 6-2, 6-0. Curry had not lost a game in the tournament until facing Clerihew.
Gay advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Ananya Ghatrazu of The Colony in a playback match. Gay lost 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals to eventual district champion Audrey Spencer of Wichita Falls Rider, but she earned the right to advance as the district runner-up with her win over Ghatrazu.
Clerihew and Gay were the only players not from Wichita Falls to earn spots in the April 16-17 regional in Abilene.
Denton finished third and Ryan fourth in the team standings.
