Corrections
The overall career record for the West Bladen doubles champions, Kaden Thurman and Lainey Autry, was understated by a few wins and 1 conference championship was omitted in the original story below.
Thurman & Autry won the Three Rivers Conference doubles tournament during their sophomore year. That tournament was played in June 2021 due to Covid-19. They played together in some doubles matches during their junior year, but Autry suffered an injury so Thurman competed in singles in the tourney that year.
Those three victories stretched their record to 38-3 against conference foes, 42-7 overall and 30-6 while playing as West Bladen’s top-seeded doubles team.
ELIZABETHTOWN – West Bladen seniors Kaden Thurman & Lainey Autry won the Southeastern Athletic Conference girls tennis tournament’s doubles championship Wednesday with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Fairmont’s Skyler McNeill & Madalyna Godwin in the title match.
It was the 12th consecutive doubles victory for the Thurman/Autry team who won all 13 of their matches against SAC-7 foes and are now 16-1 on the season losing only a non-conference match at Whiteville in August.
During their high school careers, the Thurman/Autry pairing has posted a 35-3 record against conference competition and a 39-6 overall record. While playing as West Bladen’s No. 1 doubles team, Thurman & Autry are 27-5.
In Wednesday’s consolation matches that determined the other 4 regional berths. East Bladen’s Jackie Medina Leal & Anna Marie Miranda were eliminated by the Clinton team of Bridget Castillo & Emily Edgerton 6-1, 6-2.
Lady Eagles’ Ashlyn Williams & Leah McGill lost Tuesday to Fairmont’s Shaylia Barksdale & Jazlynn Hayes 0-6, 7-5, 6-4. In the singles consolation bracket Wednesday, East Bladen’s Reese Hester was defeated by a St. Pauls player.
With their doubles championship, Thurman & Autry advance to the Class 2A MidEast Regionals at Ocean Isle Tennis Park on Friday, October 21.
About Author
