BUCYRUS — On Saturday morning, the Galion Lady Tigers tennis team headed to Bucyrus to take part in the Sam Sabback Tennis Invitational. The eight-field team brought together competition from all over the area to compete for the championship.

In the end, it was the Galion squad claiming the title with 13 team points to finish ahead of runner-up Upper Sandusky (8 points) and third place finishers Ontario (7 points). For the invite, the Lady Tigers claimed three championships. Those titles were earned by all three of the singles players for Galion.

At first singles, Kayley Gimbel found herself with a first-round match against a player from the Clear Fork Lady Colts and made quick work of her; 8-1. The second-round saw Kayley fitted against a member of the Bucyrus Lady Red and another one for Gimbel; 8-1. In the finals at first singles, Gimbel defeated her opponent from Ontario to take home the first place honors and improve her record to 10-1 in 2017.

Katherine Talbott ran through the field at second singles as well for Galion, starting the invite off against a Lady Warriors player from Ontario. Talbott won the first-round contest; 8-0. A Pleasant Lady Spartans player awaited Talbott in round two and Katherine proved to be ready, advancing to the championship game after an 8-2 victory. In the finals Talbott defeated her Bucyrus opponent 8-3 to take the crown and remain undefeated on the season at 11-0.

Third singles standout Jalyn Oswald earned a forfeit in the opening round to automatically advance to the second-round of tourney play. In that second-round, Oswald marched to an 8-0 victory over her opponent from Ontario. In the championship round, Jalyn took down her competition from Pleasant by a final of 8-1 to take the title. Oswald is also still undefeated in 2017 at 11-0.

The first doubles team of Kiersten Gifford and Danielle Schneider picked up a point for Galion as well on the day. Galion’s duo advanced to the second-round of play after defeating their St. Peter’s opponent; 8-7. In the second-round however, their opponents from Clear Fork would advance to the title match, defeating the Tigers’ duo; 8-4. Gifford and Schneider lost in their third-place match-up to the tandem from Pleasant; 6-8 to finish in fourth place overall.

Katie Baughn and Elli Chandler were eliminated after dropping their first round contest to a tough Ontario duo; 7-8.

Galion will be back on the courts starting on Monday for a busy week of high school tennis action.

On Monday, the Lady Tigers will travel to Crestline to meet up with the Lady Bulldogs in non-conference action. Tuesday, September 12 means another road trip for Galion, this time to Caledonia for a match with league foe, the River Valley Lady Vikings. The Harding Prexies will be in Heise Park on Thursday to meet up with the hosting Galion Lady Tigers in the final tune-up match before the conference tournament. The Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference tournament is set to be played on Saturday, September 16 at Harding High School.

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