Having won South Central Association conference singles championships in both 2023 and 2024, Houston High School junior Connor McKinney took another big step forward in his tennis career by winning the Class 1 District 8 singles title at the individual district tournament last Thursday at Salem.
The event included players from Houston, Licking, Salem and Osage, with the top-2 finishers in singles and doubles advancing to state play in the sectional round of the Class 1 state tournament.
McKinney was Houston’s only player in the singles bracket, and was the No. 1 seed. He basically cruised to the district title, beginning a dominant run by blanking Salem No. 2 Jordan Hubbs 6-0, 6-0, before dispatching Osage No. 2 Trent Lierhiemer in the semifinals, 6-0, 6-1.
McKinney then met Salem No. 1 Braeden Gapsch in the final and won 6-2, 6-0.
“It feels great, because there is less pressure on me and my game,” McKinney said. “This is some of the best and smoothest tennis I’ve ever played. There is no stress or nerves anymore’ I’m just playing the sport on a level I have never reached before.”
The 3 victories pushed McKinney’s overall record to 28-2 on the season.
Houston had two teams in the doubles bracket, with seniors Kolten Gayer and Waylon Collins in the squad’s No. 1 slot and sophomores Jack Sandberg in the No. 2.
Gayer and Collins (playing as a duo for the first time) were seeded fourth, and notched a win in the first round match by beating Salem’s No. 2 team of Emmett Headrick and Kaison Wilmont 6-3, 6-0.
In the semifinals the HHS pair ran into an unbeaten and top-seeded Osage team and fell 6-0, 6-2. Then in the third-place match, they went against Salem’s No. 1 team of JJ Smith and Blaine Canady and lost 8-4.
Gayer and Collins are the only seniors on this year’s Tennis Tigers and earned a fourth-place medal for their efforts. The results left Gayer with a robust overall record of 18-5 on the season.
“I thought they played really well together throughout the day, even though this was the first time they have played together as a team,” said head coach Josh McKinney. “I was very proud of my two seniors all day throughout every match, and I was happy with that result.”
McGiboney and Sandberg (both newcomers to HHS tennis this season) drew the No. 1 Salem pair in the first round and lost 6-2, 6-2.
“I was proud of their effort in the match,” coach McKinney said. “They have made some really good improvement throughout the season, as both started on JV and are now playing No. 4 and No. 6 on the varsity team. I’m looking forward to them playing a bigger role next year and making strides over the summer and fall.
“I really thought the whole team played well today, and I’m happy with the effort and attitude they carried in their matches.”
In the first round of the Class 1 state tournament this Saturday (May 11) at Osage, Connor McKinney will face the second-place finisher from District 7, which includes Moberly, Marshall, Kirksville, Boonville and Columbia Independent.
“Being a district champion is not to be taken for granted,” Connor McKinney said, “nor is it a thing a whole lot of people can say. It’s an honor and something I am proud of. I hope to work hard and repeat that again next year, although there are no guarantees.”
“As his coach, all I can say is he is playing the best tennis I have watched him play in his whole career – including summer tournaments,” coach McKinney said. “He has a calmness and confidence to him in the toughest matches – such as the conference final and district semifinal – that in years past he hasn’t had and it cost him in a lot of matches. His focus in those type of matches is much improved, and I feel he is really learning to prepare and be ready for the tough opponents and to play is best in those moments, which as a former player I know is not easy.
“I look forward to seeing what happens at the sectional and hopefully final 16 in Springfield. I’m proud of him as a coach and as his dad, no matter what the rest of the season brings.”
In a home match on Tuesday of last week, the Tennis Tigers team beat Licking for the third time this season, this time downing the county rival Wildcats 8-1.
Houston swept the doubles portion of the competition, with McKinney and Gayer winning 8-4 in the No. 1 match, Collins and Sandberg prevailing 9-7 in the No. 2 match and McGiboney and sophomore Riley Wilson taking the No. 3 match, 9-7.
In singles, McKinney blanked his opponent 8-0 in the No. 1 match, Gayer won 8-5 in the No. 2 match, Collins won 8-3 in the No. 3 match, McGiboney won 8-3 in the No. 4 match, Sandberg won 8-4 in the No. 5 match and sophomore Gavin Altman fell 8-0 in the No. 6 match.
The Class 1 District 8 team tournament began on Monday of this week.
Houston is seeded third in the 4-team bracket and took on No. 2 Salem in a semifinal match at Salem, while top-seeded Osage hosted No. 4 Licking in the other semifinal matchup.
The district championship match was set for Tuesday (May 7).
