By Mike Hutchens, Union City Schools Communications Director
Springtime continues to be a good time for multiple Union City High School athletes.
The Tornado boys’ track team won the program’s first-ever West Sectional championship on Thursday with a collection of strong showings, while the UC girls were runners-up at Dave Shatz Track.
Six Union City individual performers and three relay teams qualified for Spring Fling 32 as a result of the stellar team performances. That state meet is set for Tuesday, May 20, on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.
Meanwhile, the Union City girls’ tennis team added to the program’s illustrious history with their 17th regional championship following a 4-0 blanking of host Scotts Hill on Thursday.
The Region 7A title was the sixth straight for the Lady Tornadoes, who are now just one more victory away from a return to the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
UC will host Lakeland Prep next Thursday for a Class A Final 4 berth.
The following is a recap of Thursday’s many UC highlights:
TRACK
UC sending 15 athletes to state meet
The Tornado boys totaled 128 points to outdistance Memphis East (87) on their way to making program history.
Union City’s girls – two-time sectional champions in the past – were second (117) to East’s 154 points.
In all, 15 Twister athletes earned spots in the state meet with Top 2 finishes, with a handful of performers on the bubble for possible wildcard bids that will be determined this weekend.
Two-time state champion Adrian Crawford qualified for the Spring Fling field in three events after winning the high jump, triple jump, and placing second in the long jump. Aiden Reid won the discus and the shot for the Tornadoes, while Kyle Price posted a runner-up showing in the discus.
Woodrow McKinnis, who also had a strong finish in the 3200, punched his state ticket with a second-place finish in the 1600-meter run.
The 4X200 relay team, made up of Shontorius Fuller, Tayshun Gentry, Rodney Jenkins, and Crawford, crossed the finish line first to join Union City’s state contingent.
Debrionna Jones led the group of Lady Tornadoes to qualify for the big stage by winning the discus with a school-record 117-foot throw. Jones also won the shot put.
The 4X800 relay unit of Ainsley Beard, Ainsley Sadler, Jayla Turner, and Madie Theobold put on a dazzling performance with Sadler overtaking the competition at the wire to win and cap a program-record effort.
Katana Bonds was second in the long jump and triple jump for the Twisters to qualify for the state for the third straight year, while the 4X400 relay team made up of Beard, Turner, Chloe Hubbard, and Ca’Lae Ervin was second.
Beard set a UCHS record in the 800 and could earn a wildcard spot in that event, according to Tornado head coach Wade Maddox.
“We had a really good day, collectively,” Maddox said. “I was pleased with how we handled everything – from the rain that fell and caused some delays, to competing at home where there are always some distractions.
“We set several seasonal bests, and that’s what you want to see – your people competing at the highest level when it’s time for the state meet.”
Ervin and Crawford will compete in next week’s state pentathlon and decathlon in Clarksville.
TENNIS
UC 4, Scotts Hill 0
The Lady Tornadoes continue to accumulate championship trophies, easily dispatching overmatched SH at the same juncture as they did a year ago.
Now 15-4 on the season, UC will be seeking its 12th all-time state tourney berth and fifth in the past seven seasons next week against LP. The Lady Tornadoes are five-time state runners-up, including each of the past three seasons.
The Twister girls again made quick work of Scotts Hill on Thursday.
Union City handily won singles matches at the Top 4 seeds and was leading big at the fifth spot before the match was called after the Purple and Gold notched the necessary number of wins to make the result official.
Second-seed Dani Frankum and No. 4 Allie Vincent were especially dominating, winning their matches 6-0, 6-0 against Emma Johnson and Savanna Whitaker, respectively.
Bertie Jenkins surrendered just four games in two sets vs. Haylee Carter, claiming a 6-2, 6-2 triumph, while No. 1 seed Davey Frankum beat Julie Hampton 6-4, 6-3.
Lexi Petty was comfortably in front in her matchup against Bella Jones, when the match was declared over.
Before next week’s sectional team match, the Frankum twins and Jenkins will compete in the Region 7A individual championships on Monday.
Girls Singles
Davey Frankum (UC) defeated Julie Hampton (SH) 6-4, 6-3
Dani Frankum (UC) defeated Emma Johnson (SH) 6-0, 6-0
Bertie Jenkins (UC) defeated Haylee Carter (SH) 6-2, 6-2
Allie Vincent (UC) defeated Savanna Whitaker (SH) 6-0, 6-0
Lexi Petty (UC) was up 1-0 (up 40-15 in 2nd game) against Bella Jones (SH)