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LEWISTON — The road to a state title stopped just short for the Waterville girls tennis team.
The No. 1 Purple Panthers fell 3-2 to No. 3 Foxcroft Academy in the Class B North final on Saturday night at the Merrill Gym on the campus of Bates College. It’s the first regional title for the Foxcroft girls.
The Ponies (10-5) move on to the Class B final. Waterville finished 11-4. The Purple Panthers won the Class B title in 2021 and fell in the B final last season.
Foxcroft’s win came down to the final match, as Sol Vidal beat Karin Zimba 0-6, 6-2 (10-5) in first singles to seal the title.
“I’m really excited (to win),” Vidal said. “At first, I was nervous. (Zimba) plays really good, it was a good game. In the second set, I was more focused and (concentrated harder).”
Waterville jumped out to an early win, with the team of Piper Hamilton and Fatima Sheikh defeated Mady Kimball and Shaelyn Jankunis 6-3, 6-3 in first doubles. But Foxcroft responded with a win in second doubles from Sam Ossenfort and Emma Bither, who beat Taylor Doane and Skylah Talon 7-5, 4-6 (10-8).
Allie Anich battled to a win in second singles for the Purple Panthers, beating Annabelle Holman 6-1, 1-6 (10-6).
“It’s amazing (to win), I like to test myself throughout the match,” Anich said. “But I tend to pull through at the end.”
In spite of the loss, Anich saw the season as a success reaching the regional final.
“We always have a goal and we like to reach it,” Anich said. “Making it here is reaching a goal and it’s become routine.”
Annie Raynes beat Arian Gilman 6-4, 6-7 (10-8)(10-5) in third singles for Foxcroft.
“You just can’t get into your head (during a long match),” Raynes said. “You just have to think point by point, and I think that really helps, or you get frustrated.”
