Fort’s Mooney claims regional title
Addyson Mooney made history on Monday by winning the Region 2B singles tennis championship, becoming the first Fort Defiance girls tennis player to advance to the state tournament in singles in over 25 years.
Mooney, who was the top seed in the regional tournament, had a strong showing throughout the day. She received a first-round bye and then faced off against Central Woodstock’s Mallory Hutton in her first match, winning 6-4, 6-3.
According to Fort coach John Edgecomb, the match against Hutton was a “battle of wills and patience,” with Mooney executing her strategy nearly flawlessly. The final point came after an intense hour and a half battle.
In the regional championship match, Mooney faced off against Clarke County’s Lucia Martinez-Barrio. After a see-saw battle, Martinez-Barrio won the first set 6-3, but Mooney bounced back to win the second set 7-6 in a tiebreaker.
The championship was ultimately decided in a tiebreaker, where Mooney emerged victorious with a score of 12-9.
Edgecomb praised Mooney’s performance, especially in the challenging conditions with court temperatures reaching 120 degrees. He noted that Mooney’s ability to execute her strategy was the key to her victory.
With this win, Mooney has secured her spot in the state tournament and has made her mark in Fort Defiance tennis history.