Johnson Finishes Second in Region for ECHS Tennis: Team Impresses in Competition

ECHS Tennis Team.

Edmonson Voice Sports:
The  ECHS Tennis Team competed in the 3rd region tournament this week in Owensboro. Seniors Kaylee Lindsey and Ethan Edwards both won their first singles match to advance in the region. Both EC players put up a fight and scored some great points in the Round of 16 before exiting the contest.

Freshman, Brayden Johnson, began the 2023 tennis season ranked number 2 in the region in boys singles. He held firm, only having one loss in the entire regular season region competition to Owen Brown of Grayson and landed the number 2 overall seed for region tournament play.

Brayden received a bye his first round. He defeated Muhlenberg’s Heath Embry (6-1, 6-1) in the round of 16. Brayden then defeated Maddox Powell of Grayson County (6-1, 6-1) in the quarterfinals. He also defeated Stetson Osborne, number 4 regional seed, of Apollo (6-0, 6-1) in the semi-finals. Brayden was defeated in the region final by Grayson senior, Owen Brown (2-6, 1-6). Brayden secured the runner-up in region and punched his ticket to the KHSAA State Tournament, to be held the end of May at Top Seed in Lexington. He was named to the All-Region Team.

Members of the team include girls Addison Browning (10th), Chaney Browning (11th), Sydney Hennion (11th), Sophia Kurochka (9th), Kaylee Lindsey (12th), MaKaylee Thompson (12th), Lily Jayne Vincent (12th), Emma White (12th), and the boys Ethan Edwards (12th), Trystan Hardin (9th), Brayden Johnson (9th), Timmy Johnson (12th), Wade Luttrell (12th), Grant Merideth (12th), Andrew Talley (12th), Ian White (12th), and Cameron Whitfill (12th).

“We had a full roster of 17 kids this year. I am so pleased to see how quickly our tennis program is growing. It has been a wonderful few months for me personally. I had the opportunity to work with and get to know some fabulous humans. Special shout out to our seniors for stepping outside their comfort zone and trying a new sport. I hope they take lessons learned on & off the court & apply them to situations in their lives. I will cherish the way the players treated me and each other," said Head Coach Jodi Johnson. Coach Johnson also spoke on the success of Brayden, who is also her son.

"I am incredibly proud of Brayden. This is his second year in a row earning a spot at state. His work ethic and love for tennis is unmatched. What an accomplishment to get runner-up in region as a freshman, and with only three years of tennis experience.”