On August 5 (Wed.) and 6 (Thu.), our Junior High School Girls’ Tennis Team competed in the 75th Kinki Junior High School Comprehensive Athletic Championships, held at Tomboike Park Tennis Courts in Osaka Prefecture.

In the individual competition, Mai Sakaue competed in singles, while the pairs of Tatehana and Fujiwara, Kusumoto and Yabuuchi, and Suechika and Doi competed in doubles.

The pairs of Kusumoto and Yabuuchi, and Suechika and Doi, both making their first appearances at the Kinki Championships, advanced past the first round. Although both pairs were narrowly defeated in the second round, they put in strong performances on the Kinki stage.

In the team competition, we faced Sakai Liberal Junior High School in the first round, a team we had also played against in a tournament at the end of July. Although we lost 0–5, our players showed clear signs of improvement, including winning more games than in the previous match.

Team Competition Results

vs. Sakai Liberal Junior High School　0–5

D2　Shigehara / Kuriyama　● 2–6
D1　Sakaue / Yamamoto　● 0–6
S3　Kusumoto　● 2–6
S2　Yabuuchi　● 0–6
S1　Tatehana　● 1–6

Then, on August 18 (Tue.), the team competed in the 53rd National Junior High School Tennis Championships, held at Oishi Ryokuchi Park Tennis Courts in Shiga Prefecture.

In the first round, we faced fourth-seeded Sanyo Gakuen Junior High School. Although we lost 1–4, several matches were closely contested, and our players fought tenaciously until the very end against one of the top teams in the country.

National Championships Results

vs. Sanyo Gakuen Junior High School　1–4

D2　Tatehana / Fujiwara　● 6–7 (4)
D1　Kusumoto / Yabuuchi　○ 6–2
S3　Sakaue　● 1–6
S2　Suechika　● 0–6
S1　Doi　● 0–6

With the conclusion of the National Championships, the third-year students have now completed their time as members of the Junior High School Girls’ Tennis Team.

Drawing strength from the experience they gained through their daily practice and the time they spent working together with their teammates, they gave their all and fought to the very end on the major stages of both the Kinki Championships and the National Championships.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported the Junior High School Girls’ Tennis Team and cheered us on so warmly throughout the season.