The News Leader SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 1B SPORTS SWOOPE Alex Digrassie began playing tennis when she was 5, saying Augusta Health Fitness really helped develop her game. She played on and until she reached high school. "I was really nervous to play on a high school team," the Gap junior said. "But when I got into it I really loved it. I started taking tennis so much more seriously than I ever did before." She is unbeaten in singles this year with Gap's regular season set to end next week.
She was voted by readers of The News Leader as this week's athlete of the week. Last year, DiGrassie won the region- al championship before falling in states. Her coach, Patrick Torrens, is excited for her changes at the state level this year. DiGrassie approached this season with a more aggressive mindset, espe- cially at the net. "That has really worked out for me," she said.
"In the past I had more of a conservative playing style where I ral- lied back and forth, but now I'm hitting more aggressive shots that are winning me points." She said it hasn't been to adapt to a more aggressive style. It's really been about honing in on the little things that needed changing that have made a big in her game. "Alex is a highly skilled tennis player, a leader who has helped me develop a core of players around her that allows us to punch far above our weight as a class one school, and take down far big- ger rivals," Torrens said. DiGrassie plays the sport through- out the year. She's open to playing in college after next year if there are coaches interested in her being on the team.
"I love the individuality of (tennis)," she said. "You can focus on yourself but also focus on the team. I can help other players to out what they need to reach their goals, but I can also work on myself at the same time to the team." Her coach also pointed out that, in addition to her skills on the tennis court, DiGrassie is also a great student who attends Shenandoah Valley Gover- nor's School. "She is the total package," Torrens said. very lucky to have the chance to work with her for for four years." If you have an athlete to nominate, please ask the athlete's coach to send the student's name and stats by Sun- day to Voting opens every Monday and closes Wednesday evening at 5 p.m.
The winner will be announced Thurs- day on newsleader.com. Other nominees this week: Maggie Robertson, Riverheads, softball: In a pair of Riverheads wins last week, Robertson had four hits, an RBI, a double and two stolen bases. The senior, who is headed to Bridgewater to play softball next year, is a team leader. Her coach said her positive attitude has been a big help for a young team. Alison Troxell, Wilson Memorial, girls tennis: The sophom*ore was un- beaten last week in her singles and dou- bles matches.
Troxell won singles against Riverheads (8-0), Turner Ash- by (8-2) and Waynesboro (8-1) before teaming with GG Babral to win doubles vs Riverheads (8-4), Turner Ashby (8-6) and Waynesboro (8-3). HIGH SCHOOLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Alex DiGrassie, Buffalo Gap tennis player PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALEX DIGRASSIE DiGrassie hopes to defend her title Patrick Hite Staunton News Leader USA TODAY NETWORK Gap softball wins Buffalo Gap handed Stuarts Draft its second Shenandoah District loss on the softball season with a 6-5 win Thursday night. Gap, Draft and River- heads all now have two district losses as the regular season heads into the home stretch. Gap trailed 5-2 before rallying in the bottom of the seventh for four runs and the win. Bailey Talley had a big night, recording two hits and 2 RBIs, including a triple that tied the game.
She also scored three runs, including the game-win- ning one. Elissa Caricofe added two RBIs in the win. Caroline Alger pitched the com- plete game, striking out 17. She gave up 11 hits and five runs, all earned. Draft soccer beats Gap In girls soccer Thursday, Stuarts Draft beat Buffalo Gap 7-0.
Izzy Coyner scored three goals, Lydia Monroe added two and Kara Forde and Angela Hibshman both scored one goal each. Hailey Cox recorded a pair of assists in the Draft win. Tennis The Wilson Memorial boys tennis team beat Staunton 8-1 Thursday. Singles: Conner Miller (WM) def. Laurel Shel- ton 8-1 Jonah Heishmann (S) def.
Clay Meeks 8-2 Grant Wright (WM) def. Sawyer Tut- tle 8-4 Tim Cole (WM) def. Garrett Kane 8-2 Drew Pumphrey (WM) def. Landon Baker 8-0 Cooper Brandt (WM) def. August Schwaner 8-1 Doubles: (WM) def.
Shelton and Heishmann 8-3 (WM) def. Kane 8-1 (WM) def. Sean Her- Logue 8-0 In Shenandoah District girls tennis, Fort Defiance edged Buffalo Gap 5-4. The two teams split the singles matches before Fort captured two of three in doubles for the win. match could have gone either way," said Fort coach John Edgecomb.
"Honestly, I felt we were evenly matched. So, unforced errors were the key. Fortunately we made fewer than our Singles: Alex DiGrassie (BG) def. Addyson Mooney 8-5 Taylor Hassett (BG) def. Madison McElveen 8-5 Sierra Baker (BG) def.
Clara Lambert 8-6 Camila Armendariz-Cruz (FD) def. Sophia Donadio 8-4 Elizabeth Sushko (FD) def. Julia Sa- vor 8-1 Savanna Monger (FD) def. Jessica Rathborn 8-1 Doubles: (BG) def. Moo- 8-4 (FD) def.
Bak- 8-4 (FD) def. Rathborn 8-1 Wilson Memorial's girls tennis team beat Staunton 8-1 Thursday. Singles: Brynlee Roach (WM) def. Mia Hanson 8-2 Alison Troxell (WM) def. Hayden Terry 8-1 Iris Chen (WM) def.
Harper Leavitt 8-2 River Cranford (WM) def. Emily Per- kins 8-3 Grace Godette (WM) def. Becca Austin 8-1 Liz Cameron (WM) def. Georgia Grande-Staton 8-1 Doubles: (S) def. 8-4 (WM) def.
Austin 8-0 (WM) def. Lea- 8-0 AREA ROUNDUP Gap softball, Draft girls soccer win Patrick Hite Staunton News Leader USA TODAY NETWORK Brooks Koepka carded a 7-under- par 64 on Saturday to seize a three- stroke lead at rain-delayed LIV Golf Singapore. Koepka is bidding to become the golfer to record four victories on the LIV circuit. He sits at 12-under 130 for the tournament to lead a quartet of golfers at Sentosa Golf Serapong Course in Singapore. The major champion fol- lowed up his 66 on his 34th birthday on Friday with a bogey-free round.
He overcame a four-hour, 45-min- ute rain delay to hold a lead over Mat- thew (65 on Saturday), Adrian Meronk (66) of Poland, Abraham An- cer (67) of Mexico and Thomas Pieters (67) of Belgium. just Koepka said. were all talking, watching some of the hockey, some of the basketball. what I would do anyway if I was having some chill time anyway. Just worked out, and it was kind of nice to watch some of Koepka carded birdies on Nos.
5-7 before adding four more over his six holes. just go about it and you kind of feel it out the couple of holes and then go from there and see where things are at. Then you kind of get an idea how playing. is starting to come around, putting starting to heat up a bit. I think just hitting better golf shots, kind of fundamentals and with a bit of swagger.
Just pleased with the way played so Defending champion Talor Gooch (66), Cameron Tingle (68) and Aus- tralians Marc Leishman (67) and Lucas Herbert (67) reside at 8-under. Gooch admitted that but to catch Koepka when he has a lead entering the round of the tournament. here enough shots that are demanding that if you get a little bit loose, easy to not shoot 3- or 4-un- der par out here. got to play some dang good golf. But if you are playing good, as done and as oth- ers have done, you can make some birdies and get it going.
golf tournaments is never easy. We all know that. Hopefully we can make it not easy on him hopeful- ly I can make it not easy on him tomor- First-round leader Sebastian Munoz (70) of Colombia is tied with Martin Kaymer (69) of Germany at 7-under. Australian Cameron Smith (65) leads a group of eight golfers tied at 6-under, while Spaniard Jon Rahm (68) is tied with countryman Sergio Garcia (68) at 5-under. As for the team scores, Koepka and Gooch have helped Smash GC claim a one-stroke lead over Ripper GC and two-shot edge over RangeGoats GC.
GOLF Koepka seizes control at LIV Singapore Field Level Media Brooks Koepka shot a 7-under-par 64 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead in the event. EDGAR TODAY SPORTS.
