By Don Eskins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Bolivar Liberators slipped past the Lebanon Yellowjackets 5-4 to claim this year’s Ozark Conference tennis title on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
En route to the 2023 tournament championship the Liberators dropped the Rolla Bulldogs 5-0 and Kickapoo Chiefs 5-2 before edging Lebanon 5-4. The Glendale Falcons, after knocking off the Chiefs 5-1 in the consolation round, finished third. Eleven teams participated in the event.
A prelude to this year’s district tournaments, the event was a huge success.
“We had a great tournament and even though our field was big things went very smooth. We also saw some very good sportsmanship, our kids shared some quality time and the competition couldn’t have been more exciting,” said Central High coach and tournament director Donita Cox. “I’d say over all we had a great day of tennis.”
“You know our conference has some very good players in it. This tournament allows us to showcase just how good they really are,” she said. “Coming at the end of regular season play, it also allows our coaches one final opportunity to fine tune their teams in preparation of our upcoming district tournaments. So this event is very significant for all of us, coaches and players.”
This year’s tournament victory couldn’t have been bigger for Bolivar. Liberator head coach Nathan Rothdiener explained why.
“This is the first time, since becoming a member of the Ozark Conference, that we’ve been able to win the championship,” said Rothdiener. “We’ve competed well at times but never won. Watching our kids pick up the championship plaque today and put gold medals around their necks has been really special for us.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
But getting into this year’s tournament winner’s circle wasn’t easy for the Liberators. The Lebanon Yellowjackets came within just one match of picking up this year’s tournament title themselves.
“We knew coming in that Lebanon would be tough. We played them earlier this year and it turned out to be a five-set match also,” said the Bolivar boss. “Lebanon is a well-coached team. Coach Crowell does an excellent job with his girls and he always has them ready to play.”
Although the Liberators have been successful on the prep tennis circuit in 2023, they’re a very young team. Last year they lost five seniors to graduation.
“With only one senior, Ellie Thomas, we had a lot of new faces on our team at the beginning of the year. But as the season has progressed, we’ve been getting better and better, which is what our goal was, and it’s resulted in a conference championship. I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”
Coach Rothdiener wasn’t the only person proud of the Liberators efforts.
“I’m so proud of my team. Winning a conference championship was quite an accomplishment for all of us. And it did take all of us, the 5-4 score reflects that,” said Ellie Thomas. “But we encouraged and supported each other throughout the match. I think that was the difference for us.”
Sophomore Kami Bryan, who holds down the Liberator’s No. 1 slot, concurred.
“We definitely played some intense matches today,” said Bryan. “But when you stick together as a team, as we did, all can end well.”
For the Yellowjackets the loss to Bolivar was a tough one.
“We’ve never won an Ozark Conference championship since I’ve been coaching at Lebanon. So being in today’s final, with an opportunity to finally win one, was exciting for all of us,” said Jacket head coach Ron Crowell. “But things just didn’t work out for us today. Our kids couldn’t have played harder though. They fought, played their hearts out and I’m super, super proud of them.”
“After getting by a very good Glendale Falcon team 5-4 we felt like we could beat Bolivar today,” said Lebanon’s No. 1 player Olivia McGruder. “But after falling to the Liberators 5-4 in the final all we can really do is congratulate them. Today they were the better team.”All ‘Final Four’ teams in the tournament placed.
Ozark Conference Top 4 Team Rosters
First: Bolivar Liberators- 1. Kami Bryan, 2. Sofia Smashey, 3. Elizabeth Blanche Thomas, 4. Jillian Horner, 5. Emma Goodman and 6. Estella Scowden.
Second: Lebanon Yellowjackets- 1. Olivia Lee McGruder, 2. Kelsey Lynn Daugherty, 3. Marie Destiney Stokes, 4. Brooklyn Hope Arthur, 5. Carly Lynn Miller and 6. Bailey Grace Lowrance.
Third: Glendale Falcons- 1. Chloe Stenger, 2. Ann Isabelle Beatty, 3.Megan Elizabeth Wade, 4. Claire Stevenson, 5. Emory Sloan Riso and 6. Malorie Paige Montgomery.
Fourth: Kickapoo Chiefs- 1. Leah Anne Martin, 2. Windsor Grace Brotherton, 3. Summer Nicole Weems, 4. Chloe Isabel Dinamarca, 5. Isabella Marie McDonnell and 6.Bella Dax Brashers.
Ozark Conference Results: 1. Bolivar, 2. Lebanon, 3. Glendale, 4. Kickapoo, 5. Waynesville, 6. Camdenton, 7. Central, 8. Rolla, 9.West Plains, 10. Parkview and 11. Hillcrest.
