BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PIKEVILLE — Martin County High School tennis players Chloe May and Haruka Kaibori etched their names into program history May 11 at the 15th Region Tournament in Pikeville.
May and Kaibori became the first girls doubles team in Martin County High School history to reach the regional championship match and qualify for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Tournament. The Lady Cardinals duo finished as regional runner-up after a hard-fought three-set battle against Lawrence County in the finals.
May and Kaibori opened tournament play with a 6-2, 6-4 victory before rallying in the second round for a 6-3, 6-3, 10-6 win to advance. In the semifinals, they defeated Pikeville’s Addison Whitfield and Sadie Varney 6-4, 6-2 to secure a berth in the championship and clinch a state tournament appearance.
The finals match against Lawrence County turned into an instant classic.
After falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, May and Kaibori battled back to win 7-5. The duo again faced adversity in the second set, trailing 5-1 before rallying, but ultimately dropped the set 6-4. In the deciding super tiebreaker, the Lady Cardinals pair surged ahead 7-2 before Lawrence County mounted a comeback to win 11-9.
MCHS head coach Josh Penix said the heartbreaking finish could not overshadow what the pair accomplished throughout the season.
“Chloe and Haruka work together well because they play two different styles,” Penix said. “Chloe runs the baseline and attacks weak spots while Haruka is a wall at net. While there is a communication barrier, they still have good communication and chemistry.”
Penix said one of the biggest moments of the tournament came during the second-round victory against Magoffin County.
“They struggled a little early on and fought their way back and won in a super tiebreak,” he said.
For Penix, seeing the duo make history carried extra meaning.
“I’ve coached Chloe for three years now and to see her improvement over the years and become one of the best girls in the region is astonishing. I am beyond proud of her accomplishments as she has become the most accomplished girl in Martin County tennis history,” Penix said.
He also praised Kaibori’s adjustment during her first season on a new surface.
“Haruka has been a delight to have this year as well,” Penix said. “She had never played on hard court so this was a change for her as she had only ever played on clay.”
Despite the emotional championship loss, Penix said he was proud of the resilience the pair showed throughout the match and tournament.
“The way they lost in the championship was heartbreaking,” Penix said. “They started the first set down 4-1, battled back and won the first set 6-4. They started the second set down 5-1, battled back and dropped it 6-4. In the third-set super tiebreak, they went up before losing momentum and ultimately lost 11-9. It was gut-wrenching to say the least. But I am so proud of them for battling all year and in the tournament and finishing as region runner-up. Now, to see who we play at state and get ready.”
May and Kaibori will compete in the KHSAA State Tournament in Ashland on May 20.
Other Martin County competitors also battled through a challenging regional field in Pikeville. In singles play, Raegan Hale and Adalynn Maynard each dropped 6-0, 6-0 matches.
Cole Damron fell 6-1, 6-1. Jerrod Haney turned in one of the Cardinals’ strongest singles performances of the day before falling 6-4, 6-4.
In doubles action, Bryson Dials and Shawn Marcum opened the tournament with an impressive 6-0, 7-5 victory before their run ended in the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 loss.
Chase Hinkle and Corey Endicott were defeated 6-0, 6-1 in their opening-round match.
Addison Kerr and Bella Marcum rallied for a thrilling first-round comeback win, bouncing back after losing the opening set to claim a 6-4, 6-1, 10-2 victory before falling 6-0, 6-2 in the second round.
