Rain delays finish of tennis tourneys

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
June 28, 2004
Wade Covington was a boy among men at the State Games of Mississippi tennis tournament.
The Meridian native, who recently completed his freshman season at Lamar School with a state championship, won a gold medal in the men's open singles competition and is still eligible for a bronze medal in the men's open doubles event.
But facing bigger and older competition is nothing new for Covington, who went through a handful of seniors in the state championship tournament in May.
Rain was again a factor in the tournament and delayed several matches until early this week. Tennis commissioner Wanda McPhail said that some players had to default their matches and return home, but other local competitors will finish their matches today and Tuesday.
Turnout was roughly half its usual total, as about 60 players competed in the junior and adult tournaments, which were not sanctioned events.
Results through Sunday evening are as follows.
In the girls' 16 and under division, Dru Anderson won the gold medal. Elise Gibbs took silver, and Claire Massey won the bronze.
Elliot Clark won a gold medal in the boys' 16 and under division, while Wilson Bounds earned a silver medal and Nicholas Gunning won bronze.
In the boys' 14 and under division, Dalton Delk took the gold medal. Armand Denaikos won silver, while B.B. Mitchell and Dyle Dew tied for the bronze medal.
Eddie Fulton and Daryl Jackson won the gold medal in the men's 3.5 doubles tournament. The silver and bronze medalists have yet to be determined.
The silver and bronze medal winners are also undetermined in the open mixed doubles event, where Anthony Hiatt and Fran Seymour won gold medals.
Sherry Chickaway won gold in the women's 3.0 singles, while Elizabeth Martel took a silver medal and Dorothy Edley won bronze.
Wade Covington won the men's open singles event. David Makey was the competition's silver medalist, and Mark Naylor and Brad Dearman tied for the bronze.
In the girls' 12 and under event, Elizabeth Case won the gold medal, Cassie Munn won silver and Savannah Vance took the bronze.
In the girls' 14 and under event, Elizabeth Case and Elise Gibbs earned gold medals. Claire and Kasey Tadlock won the silver medals, while Savannah Vance and Cassie Munn won bronze.
Hayes Mitchell won the gold medal in the boys' 12 and under singles event, and Andrew Dayton won the silver medal.
Hunter Lightsey took gold in the men's 3.0 singles tournament, while Justin Sutton won a silver medal. Kinard Johnson got the bronze medal.
Craig Leasure and Kara Ann Lizley won the gold medal in the mixed 6.0 doubles tournament.