Donnell off to state

Overcoming injury, Oak Harbor senior Scott Donnell capped off an outstanding fall tennis season with a second place district finish and a state berth on Friday afternoon.

In the final point of the championship match between Donnell and the number one player from the South, Mike Reading, Donnell received what could have been a crucial injury.

“He went for a ball that was behind him and he pulled a muscle in his lower back,” head coach Horace Mells said.

Although he lost the match 6-3, 7-5, Donnell still had a consolation match to prepare for in less than two hours. After serious icing and the use of a back brace, he was ready to go in his winner-to-state match against Mount Vernon’s Eric Fredlund.

“He was able to play without increasing his level of pain,” Mells said.

Donnell, who had already beaten Fredlund four times this year had no trouble with him in his fifth try, winning 6-3, 6-1.

“He played really well,” Mells said.

The victory ensured Donnell a second place finish and was good enough for the final berth into the state tournament held this May.

Despite losing to Reading in the championship match, Mells was pleased with what he saw from his number one singles player.

“The guys from the South are powerful,” Mells said. “Scott had it working, he just came up a little short. I felt like if Scott could have gotten that second set, he could have won.”

Donnell is the first Oak Harbor boy to make the state tournament since Marc Manucal went in 1999 and 2000. The tournament will take place in May, but the location is yet to be decided. Yakima and Spokane are currently bidding for the tournament.

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