
By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Heading into the Region 7A Tennis Tournament finals, one state berth was a given for Union City.
A second made the day twice as nice.
The UC boys’ tandem of Charleton Wisener and Gavin Pledge joined Lady Tornado teammates Shelby Bondurant and Molly Kizer in earning spots in next week’s Spring Fling after both teams won regional titles Tuesday afternoon.
Wisener and Pledge became the first Union City boys’ doubles team to qualify for the state tournament since 2014 by impressively dispatching Gibson County’s Collin Skelton and Colton Lumpkin 6-4, 6-1.
The Tornado senior duo will face Blake Myer and Ben Purnell of Watertown, May 25 at 9 a.m. in a Class 1A quarterfinal match at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro. The semifinals will be held that afternoon, with the tourney finals set for May 26 at 11 a.m.
UC was already guaranteed a spot in the girls’ state doubles field with Bondurant and Kizer matched against teammates Dani and Davey Frankum in an all-Lady Tornado final.
Resuming a weather-suspended match from Monday that was tied at 2-all in the first set, Bondurant and Kizer repeated their district title-winning effort against the Frankum sisters, claiming a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Bondurant and Kizer – the first doubles team from UC to make it to state in five years – also advance to a state quarterfinal date on May 25, facing a yet-to-be-determined foe at 9 a.m. at the Adams Complex. The Final 4 is set for that afternoon, with the championship match scheduled for May 26 at 11 in the morning.
Union City freshman Bertie Jenkins fell short in her state qualifying bid, dropping a 6-3, 6-3 decision to Dyersburg’s Malym Morgan in the singles final. The match was picked up after being delayed on Monday, with Morgan up a set and 3-2 in the second set.
Tornado head coach Tom Sisco was understandably elated that Wisener and Pledge doubled UC’s state tourney headcount with a second splendid performance after they knocked off District 14 champs Daniel Pipken and Isaiah McLemore of South Gibson in Monday’s three-set semifinal.
“I’m thrilled that something good finally happened to Charleton and Gavin,” Sisco said. “They’d been so close in so many big situations during the year, and today, they finally got over the hump.
“We’d been pushing them, telling them their best was good enough. We saw today, and they saw today that it was. Gavin’s serve was just overpowering, and Charleton was steady and consistent all day.
“I’m so proud of them.”
The girls’ doubles final was filled with spectacular shot-making, long rallies, and all-out hustle on both sides – all of which Sisco expected.
“Shelby and Molly know they have to kick it up a notch when they play the (Frankum) twins, and they did,” the UC coach continued. “The resolve on both sides was absolutely amazing, and to watch those girls compete, and the tenacity that they bring was awesome.
“No doubt, Bondurant and Kizer are playing really well now and with a lot of confidence. It’s important that they remain focused, and I do believe they can make some noise on the state level.”
Though Jenkins was stopped one step short of her goal in the singles finals, she capped a stellar season that saw her win the district tournament championship after playing the season as the fifth seed and then advancing to the regional championship by dominating Ripley’s Megan Coker in Monday’s semis.
“What a magical season for Bertie, and what a great experience to build from,” Sisco said. “Especially for a freshman, she was awesome and gave it everything she had.
“To play at this high of a level as a freshman is only going to help her as she grows, and her game matures.”
Union City’s girls will play Chester County Thursday in a sectional match, with the winner earning a spot in next week’s state team semifinals.