Irish, Ashleigh Chiaf not ready to give up the crown just yet

Always looking for the best stories. The dream is that in individual/team sports that one match can decide it. Coincidentally, that’s why two of my favorite sports are tennis and wrestling. Though both are team sports, it’s also very much geared toward the individual.

So you hope just maybe one time one match at a certain weight class or one match on the court  will determine a championship. It did on Wednesday in the Edmond Tournament.

In this corner, Ann Pepper of Edmond North against Bishop McGuinness’ Ashleigh Chiaf in the No. 1 singles championship. Teams were guaranteed a 1-2 finish, but it was this match that would determine how it went.

Both North assistant Bryan Duroy and Irish head coach Vicki Connelly were very pleased with the effort that saw Chiaf win 6-4, 6-3, to give the Irish the team title. Trinian O’Neil also helped out in the cause by winning the No. 2 singles title.

Maybe it wasn’t fair to write off the Irish after the Heritage Hall Tournament of Champions. This was a nice statement made by the Irish girls, and I believe between Chiaf, Pepper and Heritage Hall’s Sarah Bowen, you’re looking at the top three players in the Oklahoma City area.

Chiaf is a really a story worth telling (I will, don’t worry). Waiting in the wings since she was a freshman, the Missouri signee is showing that not only can she handle being the top player, she can also handle leading the team.

Hey, just a tough day to pick where you wanted to be. Deer Creek-Norman North baseball? Josh Richardson signing with Tennessee? Top-notch tennis tournament?

Enid won both doubles championships and gotta believe the Pacers are going to play a role in the team race next month.

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Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com