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Twins make state
Knodells place third at district championships
Arnold Ybarra has faith in the Knodell twins and for good reason.
He sat by on Saturday watching his No. 1 doubles team, Bonnie and Colleen Knodell, stave off elimination time and time again. The girls placed third at the CWAC Championships and qualified for the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington 2A Tennis Championships at the Nordstrom Center on the campus of the University of Washington.
“The reward is insane,” Colleen said. “It’s all about forgetting about the distractions and one point at a time."
The sisters were forced into the elimination bracket after losing on Thursday. With just three seeds up for grabs, compared to the boy's four, the Knodells were in dire straits to win out or go home empty-handed.
“If we just won on Thursday it would have been a lot easier,” Bonnie said. “I’ve never wanted anything so much in my life.”
“We found the right balance,” Colleen said. “We play well together.”
The senior Lady Jackrabbits (18-6) won back-to-back-to-back doubles matches to reach the state tournament. The first was a straight victory over Harris and Sellers of East Valley, 6-3, 6-3. They continued on their quest with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Selah’s Martin and Silverthorn to set up the final obstacle standing in their way – the first doubles team from Prosser.
“They had beat them before, so they weren’t worried,” Ybarra said. “They played three pretty good matches and they fought tooth and nail.
“They are peaking.”
They beat Prosser’s Markus and Larson 6-3, 6-4 to claim the third and final berth to state. It was a goal they were supposed to achieve from the start of the season.
“People told us you can make it to state this year,” Bonnie said. “But it’s not real until you make it.”
They are the first girls to head to state from QHS in 15 years.
“I told them they were the best and I believed it,” Ybarra said.
Miller-Davis (EV) d. Knodell/Knodell 6-3, 7-5. Knodell/Knodell d. Harris/Sellers (EV) 6-3, 6-3. Martin/Silverthorn 6-4, 7-6). Knodell/Knodell d. Markus/Larson 6-3, 6-4.
VanDyke eliminated
Blake VanDyke found himself one game from a state berth on Saturday. The senior opened the District 5/6 Tennis Championships with a loss to Ammon Stancliffe of Toppenish, but rebounded on Saturday to eliminate John Surmeyer of Prosser 6-2, 6-0. In his next match, Rogi Fajardo of Grandview knocked VanDyke out of the tournament with a 6-0, 6-2 win.
“I bet there were 15 deuces at 2-4 and it went for 20 minutes,” coach Alan Rasmussen said. “If it would have been 3-4 it would have kept a little wind in his sails.”
Stancliffe (Top) d. VanDyke 6-3, 6-4. VanDyke (Q) d. John Surmeyer (Pro) 6-2, 6-0. Fajardo (GV) d. VanDyke 6-0, 6-2.
