Photo by Wayne Bauer Kylie Auman of Elk County Catholic, right, is the District 9-AA Tennis Champion, while Rachel Walker of St. Marys Area, left, is the runner-up. Both girls are shown with their plaques for finishing first and second in the District.

By Wayne A. Bauer

Staff Writer

Elk County Catholic’s Kylie Auman claimed her first District 9-AA tennis title on Tuesday afternoon at the Memorial/Benzinger Park Tennis courts as she won three matches on her way to the 2009 title

In the finals Kylie, a junior, defeated crosstown rival Rachel Walker, another junior, by a 6-1, 6-1 score to claim her first title.

“I dedicated today play to our former head coach Gordon Daghir, who died shortly before this season began,” said Kylie Auman following her championship match. “Coach Daghir was a great coach and we really miss him.”

“I am very excited to win the District title and I am looking forward to playing in the State tournament and the District Team championships beginning Monday,” said Auman.

Kylie started her run for the title by defeating Brockway Brittany Johnson by a 6-2, 6-0 score in a 9 a.m. match at Memorial Park. In the second round Auman defeated Laura Stahli of Johnsonburg, 6-4 and 6-3 at Memorial to advance to the title match against Walker.

Walker in the meantime advanced to the finals by defeating Nicki Oler of Johnsonburg, 6-1, 6-2, in her 9 a.m. match at Benzinger Park. Rachel then defeated Ashley Vincent of Brockway, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, at Benzinger Park to advance to the finals against Auman.

In the other matches at nine o’clock Stahli defeated Allison Shields of St. Marys, 6-4, 6-3, while Vincent defeated Megan Cotter of Elk Catholic 6-0, 6-4.

In the championship match, Walker took a 1-0 lead in the opening set, but then Auman rallied to win the next six points to take the first set by a 6-1 score. In the second set Auman went out to a 3-0 lead before Walker cut it to 3-1. Auman then took the next three sets to win the 2009 District 9-AA championship and advance to the PIAA State Tournament on November 6 and 7 at Hershey.

District 9-AAA

Punxsutawney’s Emily Graffius won the District 9-AAA title as she defeated DuBois Area’s Molly Hobbs by 6-3, 6-1 score in the finals.

Graffius advanced to the finals by defeating Markle Gustafson of DuBois, 7-6 (12-10) and 6-1 in the opening round, then came up with a 6-1, 6-1, victory over Jodi Irons of Bradford in the second round.

Hobbs opened with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Keshia Farnsworth of Punxsutawney, then defeated Hilary Digel of Bradford, 6-1, 6-3.

The other first round matches found Digel defeated Madison Sopic of Clearfield, 6-0, 6-0, while Irons defeated Jenny Miller of Clearfield, 6-1, 6-1.

The Elk Catholic girls will enter the District 9-AA team championship play on Monday when they play host to the Brockway Lady Rovers in a match set for Benzinger Park.