Grace Tennis Battles Through Close Matches at TAPPS State Team Tournament in Waco

October 12, 2026 – Grace Community School’s varsity tennis team competed in the small division of the TAPPS Fall Team Tennis Tournament in Waco last Monday, falling in all three team matches but playing several close contests.

Representing the Cougars were Haley Pino, Eli Murphy, Mia Lindley, Rowyn Parish, Easton Griffin, Aiden Morales, Evangeline Bock, Leila Jordt, Kylan West, Pepe Jimenez, Myla Cook and Cade McElmurry.

In the opening round, Grace lost to All Saints of Fort Worth, 6-3. Parish won her singles match, and the doubles teams of McElmurry and West and of Cook and Jimenez also won. Morales lost his singles match in a tiebreaker, and Lindley and Parish were also in a close doubles match.

After lunch, the Cougars fell to Vanguard of Waco, 6-3. Parish again won in singles, and Lindley and Parish won in doubles. Lindley also earned a win when her opponent retired with the score tied 6-6. McElmurry and West lost a hard-fought doubles match in a tiebreaker, 8-7(7).

In the final match, Grace faced All Saints of Tyler. Jordt won her singles match for the Cougars’ lone win. Lindley and Parish lost a doubles match in a tiebreaker, 8-7(1).

The Cougars have a couple more matches this fall before they look ahead to the spring season beginning in January.