BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
SALYERSVILLE — Martin County High School tennis teams opened the 2026 season March 12 with the boys earning back-to-back team wins while the Lady Cardinals battled to a tie in their opener before dropping their second match.
Martin County opened the season at Magoffin County. The Cardinals posted a dominant 6-0 victory while the Lady Cardinals finished in a 4-4 tie.
In girls singles play against Magoffin County, Chloe May earned a 6-1 win at No. 1 singles and Haruka Kaibori cruised to a 6-0 victory at No. 2. Addison Kerr fell 6-2, Bella Marcum split her matches with a 6-2 loss and a 7-5 win, and Keyera Maynard dropped a 6-0 decision.
In doubles action, Kadence Blackburn and Maci Maynard picked up a 6-1 win at the No. 3 seed. The teams of Kerr/Kaibori and Adalynn Maynard/Raegan Hale came up short 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.
The Martin County boys were impressive in their season opener after sweeping Magoffin County 6-0. Bryson Dials led the way with a 6-0 win at No. 1 singles. Chase Hinkle won 6-1, Cole Damron added a 6-2 victory, and Caden Mann rolled to a 6-0 win.
In doubles play, Dials and Brayden Marcum earned a 6-0 victory. Jerrod Haney and Shawn Marcum won 6-1.
Martin County returned to the court Friday at Knott County Central. The Lady Cardinals fell 2-8 but the Cardinals edged Knott County 6-4 to remain unbeaten.
For the girls, M. Maynard earned a 6-2 singles win and the doubles team of Blackburn/M. Maynard also picked up a 6-2 victory. May fell 8-1 at No. 1 singles, Kaibori lost 8-2, Be. Marcum dropped both of her matches 6-0, and Kyera Maynard fell 6-2.
In doubles play, the team of May and Kaibori lost 6-3. Hale and A. Maynard dropped both of their matches 6-0.
The Cardinals secured their second team win of the season with a 6-4 victory over Knott County.
Br. Marcum delivered one of the day’s most competitive wins, pulling out a 7-6 tiebreak victory. Haney added a 6-0 singles win, and Damron also won 6-0. Dials fell 8-2 at No. 1 singles, Corey Endicott lost 8-1, and Hinkle dropped both of his matches by scores of 6-3 and 6-2.
In doubles competition, Dials and Br. Marcum earned a hard-fought 9-8 win in a tiebreaker, S. Marcum and Haney picked up a 6-2 victory, and Endicott and Damron won 6-0.
After the opening week, the Martin County boys improved to 2-0, while the girls stand at 0-1-1.
Martin County is scheduled to travel to Lawrence County on March 18 before returning home March 20 to host Shelby Valley.