In the first year of the post Noel Clayton era, new head coaches Stacie Moyers, Audie Moyers, and Brandon Haines have stepped in and filled the void admirably. Despite young rosters for both the girls and boys’ programs, neither team has taken a step back – highlighted by their combined 5-2 finish to the regular season.
For the Aces, it was a clean and dominant week, with wins over Grayson County (7-2), Central Hardin (3-2), and Daviess County (7-2). Freshman Jack Haines and eighth grader Oliver Haines – who are both seeded third and fourth for the 3rd Region Tournament scheduled to kick off later this evening – flashed glimpses of what’s to come. They went a combined 4-0 in their singles matches against Central Hardin and Grayson County.
A grueling early season that saw the Aces hold their own against top competition from Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi prepared the program for the final stretch.
“With the individual and team regional competitions approaching, the boys are ready to compete,” Owensboro Catholic boys head coach Brandon Haines said. “For me, the most rewarding part of coaching is watching the players improve throughout the season. Our roster depth allowed us to utilize athletes in multiple positions, and the young men embraced their roles. Their maturity and growth were key factors in our success. It’s not easy bringing six underclassmen into hostile environments against older, more experienced juniors and seniors. I’m extremely proud of them, but we still have a lot of meat left on the bone.”
In a packed final week, which saw the Lady Aces finish 2-2, they narrowly lost to Castle 4-1 and Daviess County 3-2, but handled Mater Dei 3-2 and Grayson County 4-1. The doubles team of Lexi Moyers and Gabi Moyers had a perfect week – finishing 3-0 and winning their fourth match via forfeit – earning themselves the number three seed for the 3rd Region Tournament.
“This was a very tough week of play. We played a lot of tennis against very strong teams,” Owensboro Catholic girls coach Audie Moyers said. “All the girls have stepped up and are playing well heading into Region.”
