Livingston, Briley going to state

Wylie's Lee Livingston and Parker Briley claimed a pair of straight-set victories by identical 6-3, 6-3 scores to win the Region I-3A boys doubles title and earn a state berth.

Livingston and Briley downed Reagan County's Edward Leija and Martin Morin in the doubles final after defeating Brownfield's Bradley Waters and Bruce Churchwell in the semifinals Thursday at the Odessa College tennis courts.

"They had tough competition," Wylie coach Stacy Bryan said of her boys doubles team. "We were fortunate to win. We were mentally tough and ready to play."

Sarah Everett of Breckenridge won the girls singles title by defeating Julie Goddard of Friona, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in that championship match. Everett downed Whitney Bassham of Colorady City, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals.

The Wylie girls doubles team of Stephanie Osborn and Sunny Wu wasn't as fortunate as the Bulldogs' boys doubles team, however.

Osborn and Wu dropped a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 semifinal decision to the Midland Greenwood team of Melissa Wade and Melinda Wade. Osborn and Wu then lost a tough 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 decision to Katie Key and Kristi Burger of Sonora in the third-place match.

"The girls lost two heartbreakers," Bryan said. "They were just a point away from going to state. But no one expected them to get that far. I'm really proud of them."
BOYS
Doubles
Semifinals - Lee Livingston-Parker Briley, Wylie, def. Bradley Waters-Bruce Churchwell, Brownfield, 6-3, 6-3; Edward Leija-Martin Morin, Reagan County, def. Jimmy Bryan-Brad Beck, Dimmitt, 6-2, 6-2.
Finals - Livingston-Briley def. Leija-Morin, 6-3, 6-3.
Third place - Waters-Churchwell def. Bryan-Beck, 6-3, 6-4.
Playback - Leija-Morin def. Waters-Churchwell, 6-4, 6-1.
Singles
Semifinals - Jason Kirkland, Shallowater, def. Stephen Morris, Iowa Park, 6-3, 6-0; Wes Luxton, Reagan County, def. Lonnie Hernandez, Denver City, 6-3, 6-1.
Finals - Kirkland def. Luxton, 6-4, 6-2.
Third place - Hernandez def. Morris, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6.
GIRLS
Doubles
Semifinals - Melinda Wade-Melissa Wade, Midland Greenwood, def. Stephanie Osborn-Sonny Wu, Wylie, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4; Lisa McManigal-Jill Rainwater, Vernon, def. Katie Key-Kristi Burger, Sonora, 6-4, 6-1.
Finals - McManigal-Rainwater def. Key-Burger, 6-4, 6-1.
Third place - Key-Burger def. Osborn-Wu, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Playback - Wade-Wade def. Key-Burger, 6-1, 6-2.
Singles
Semifinals - Sarah Everett, Breckenridge, def. Whitney Bassham, Colorado City, 6-3, 6-2; Julie Goddard, Friona, def. Nichol Castillo, Reagan County, 6-4, 6-2.
Finals - Everett def. Goddard, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Third place - Castillo def. Bassham, 6-3, 6-3.