The Houston High School tennis team competed last Thursday (April 30) at the Class 1 District 5 individual district tournament at Logan-Rogersville, and then wrapped up the 2026 season with the team district tournament Monday (May 4) at Salem.
Houston had one entry in the nine-team individual tournament: Sophomore Ryan Haslett. Haslett faced the No. 2 entry from Salem in the first round and lost, 6-0, 6-3.
“I thought Ryan has improved a lot over the year, starting in JV and then playing his way into the varsity lineup the last couple of weeks,” said HHS head coach Josh McKinney.
Houston had two doubles teams in the bracket.
South Central Association conference doubles champions Kaleb McGiboney and Jack Sandberg – both seniors – were seeded fourth in the bracket and received a first round bye. They then played the Salem No. 2 team and won, 6-2, 7-5.
In the quarterfinals, they played the No. 1 Mountain Grove duo and won again, 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. The match was a rematch of the SCA tournament final.
The HHS pair then met the top-seeded Forsyth team in the semifinals and lost, 6-1, 6-3.
“I thought they played really well, but just ran into a really good team,” McKinney said.
In the third-place match, the Houston duo lost to Salem’s No. 1 doubles team again in 3 sets, 6-1, 6-7, 10-4. They did get into medal position with a fourth-place finish.
“These two players really earned everything they accomplished this season,” McKinney said. “They have worked so hard on their own time and have really improved over the three years on the team. Their leadership and work ethic will be missed.”
Houston’s other pair of seniors, Riley Wilson and Gavin Altman, got a rough draw and had to play a tough No. 1 Rogersville team in the first round and lost, 6-0, 6-1.
“I have had Riley for four years and Gavin for three, and have enjoyed my time with them on the team,” McKinney said. “They will be missed next year. Over the four years I have had her, Riley is one of the most improved over that span and it has been a joy watching her progression.”
At the team district tournament, Houston lost two out of three doubles matches, with Sandberg and McGiboney notching the only win.
In singles, McGiboney won in three sets at the No. 1 singles match, Sandberg won the No. 2 singles match in straight sets, Altman lost the No. 3 match, Wilson was defeated in the No. 4 match and Haslett lost the No. 6 match. The No. 5 singles was not finished, with freshman Ty Bratt trailing in the second set.
“All in all, I thought it was a tough year but a rewarding experience with a great group of kids,” McKinney said. “They all got better and I was really proud of each and every one of them. I will miss this team but am looking forward to the new group of kids and getting to work over the summer.”
