By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Having already clinched both girls’ and boys’ District 14A team tennis championships, Union City is now just two more wins away from a perfect league record for the 2026 season.
The Tornado squads each improved to 12-0 in district play by completing a season sweep of Obion County Central on Wednesday.
The resurgent UC boys, who secured their first district team title since 2019 and 21st in program history with a Tuesday win against Westview, improved to 15-1 overall with a 6-1 triumph over OC.
Kobe Kirk (8-5), Paul Martin Tohn (8-4), and Grant Sinclair (8-6) grinded out hard-fought singles wins vs. Rebel opposition, with those three plus Byron Abbott combining for a pair of doubles triumphs.
Kipton Powers had the easiest of Union City wins, 8-1 in singles.
The Tornado girls, who continued their run of dominance with their seventh consecutive district team championship and 29th all-time, beat Obion Central 5-2 on Wednesday to better their overall seasonal mark to 15-3.
Allie Vincent and Briley Kate McKinney won twice each, cruising as a team to an 8-0 doubles victory and then winning 8-2 and 8-1, respectively, in singles.
Josie Ross (8-6) and Emma Jane Rice (8-0) also triumphed in individual play.
Union City will next compete in the USJ Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Jackson.
Girls Singles
Bertie Jenkins (UC) lost to Lindsey Webb (OC) 6-8
Allie Vincent (UC) defeated Micah Poore (OC) 8-2
Josie Ross (UC) defeated Libby Carman (OC) 8-6
Emma Jane Rice (UC) defeated Lily Wright (OC) 8-0
Briley Kate McKinney (UC) defeated Laura Hooks (OC) 8-1
Stella Turner (UC) defeated Anna Heathcott (C) 6-4
Rylan Ali Bondurant (UC) defeated Jenna Hicks (OC) 6-3
Maddie Bailey (UC) defeated Sy Campbell (OC) 6-1
Kenslie Taylor (UC) defeated Cambry Gurly (OC) 6-2
Girls Doubles
Jenkins/Ross (UC) lost to Webb/Carman (OC) 4-8
Vincent/McKinney (UC) defeated Poore/Heathcott (OC) 8-0
Rice/Turner (UC) defeated Wright/Hooks (OC) 6-2
Bailey/Bondurant (UC) defeated Campbell/Hicks (OC) 6-1
Boys Singles
Kobe Kirk (UC) defeated Braden Elam (OC) 8-5
Byron Abbott (UC) lost AJ Gammons (OC) 5-8
Paul Martin Tohn (UC) defeated Sam Cunningham (OC) 8-4
Grant Sinclair (UC) defeated Bronson Pergande (OC) 8-6
Kipton Powers (UC) defeated Caden Easterwood (OC) 8-1
Camden Dawkins (UC) defeated Liam Clark (OC) 6-0
Boys Doubles
Kirk/Abbott (UC) defeated Elam/Cunningham (OC) 8-3
Tohn/Sinclair (UC) defeated Gammons/Pergande (OC) 8-5
Powers/Dawkins (UC) defeated Easterwood/Clark (OC) 6-0
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Lake Co. 20, UC 10
The Tornadoes spotted LC an 8-0 lead, rallied to tie the game at 10, but then saw the Falcons erupt for nine runs in the third to win a slugfest at Tiptonville.
UC (6-19) contributed to its downfall with three errors that made half of Lake County’s runs unearned.
The Twisters got three RBIs from Japheth Caldwell and two more from Ben Howell in their 10-hit attack. Preston Cresell had two hits, including a double, and Jack Theobald also had a two-bagger.
Brayden Marshall and Will Kail each scored a pair of runs.
Jackson Vowell had a rough outing and was charged with the mound loss. Marshall and Sam Jones pitched in relief.
Union City is slated to host Augustine – a change from the original schedule – on Friday at 5 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TENNIS
UC 4, McCracken Co. 3 (G)
McCracken Co. 7, UC 0 (B)
Union City faced off against host McCracken County and a combination of players from St. Mary’s and CCA in a tri-match on Wednesday, gaining valuable experience, according to first-year head coach McKaily Bailey.
“I’m really proud of the way they competed against some tough teams,” she said. “Playing strong competition pushed them to step up and work even harder to improve. We have several players who are brand new to tennis, and they have absolutely stepped up and done an awesome job. I truly think matches like this will help prepare us well for the rest of the season.”
The UC girls recorded a 4-3 team win over MC, led by Andi Walker and Carsen Gray, who won twice each.
Union City will host Dyer County on Tuesday.
Girls Singles
- Andi Walker (UC) defeated Sophie Clark (M) 6-4
- Carsen Gray (UC) defeated Hannah Corey (M) 7-5
- Austyn Dilday (UC) lost to Zoey Duong (M) 3-6
- Molly Dean (UC) lost to Lili Pace (M) 3-6
- Reilly Mears (UC) lost to Liza (M) 1-6
Girls Doubles
Andi Walker/Carsen Gray (UC) defeated Zoey Duong/Lili Pace (M) 6-3
Austyn Dilday/Molly Dean (UC) defeated Parker Barks/Avery Morgan (M) 6-2
Extra Play
Reilly Mears/ Lilliann Petty (UC) defeated Allie Faulkner/Grace Gillespie (M) 6-2
Emmaline Ogden/Peyton Kendall (UC) lost to Millie Jones/Reagan Hollowell (M) 2-6
Maris Anderson/McKinley Reed (UC) lost to Dylin Barks/Ellie Boyd (M) 1-6
Boys Singles
- William Tohn (UC) lost to Levi Tardy (M) 0-6
- Cooper Waggoner (UC) lost to Joseph (M) 6-0
- Eli Rice (UC) lost to Bentley McKinney (M) 1-6
- Dexter Graham (UC) lost to Max Thompson (M) 4-6
- Walton Harder (UC) lost to Hudson Skidmore (M) 1-6
Boys Doubles
William Tohn/Eli Rice (UC) lost to Levi Tardy/Joseph (M) 3-6
Dexter Graham/Cooper Waggoner (UC) lost to Bentley McKinney/Hudson Skidmore (M) 5-5 with tiebreaker 6-8
Extra Play
Jeremiah Mobbs (UC) lost to Rowan Toumbs (M) 4-6
Armee Wilkins (UC) defeated Grant Phillips (M) 6-3
OVERALL RECORDS
Girls
Andi Walker 4-4 (2 singles wins, 2 doubles wins)
Carsen Gray 4-4 (2 singles wins, 2 doubles wins)
Austyn Dilday 3-4 (1 singles win, 2 doubles wins)
Molly Dean 3-4 (1 singles win, 2 doubles wins)
Reilly Mears 4-4 (2 singles wins, 2 doubles wins)
Lilliann Petty 2-3 (2 doubles wins)
Emmaline Ogden 1-3 (1 singles win)
McKinley Reed 1-3(1 doubles win)
Maris Anderson 1-3 (1 doubles win)
OVERALL BOYS’ RECORDS
Cooper Waggoner 2-4 (1 singles win, 1 doubles win)
Dexter Graham 2-4 (1 singles win, 1 doubles win)
Armee Wilkins 2-3 (2 singles wins)
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
High School Track
Union City @ Dyersburg, 4 p.m.
Middle School Track
Union City @ Caldwell County, 5 p.m.
High School Softball
Union City @ Gibson County, 5 p.m.
Middle School Soccer
McKenzie @ Union City, 5:30 p.m.