Pirates’ tennis standout wins opener at state singles tourney

Piscataquis of Guilford senior Lucinda Wingert achieved a first for her school’s 5-year-old varsity tennis program Friday — winning a match at the state singles tournament.

Wingert, the Pirates’ No. 1 singles seed, defeated Madelyn Dwyer of Maranacook of Readfield 6-4, 6-3 in her Round of 48 match at the Racket and Fitness Center in Portland.

Opening-day matches at the tournament were moved indoors from their originally scheduled location at Lewiston High School due to threatening weather.

Wingert, who qualified for state singles play all four years of her high school career, had her tournament run ended later in the day during a hard-fought Round of 32 loss to 10th-seeded Gabrielle Marquis of Caribou.

Wingert dropped the first set 6-3 but rallied to win a second-set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5). Marquis, the top girls’ player in Aroostook County, rebounded to win the final set 6-1.

Wingert was one of two PCHS players who advanced to the state tournament. Pirates’ second seed Alanna Whitney also played in the Round of 48 but dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision to Grace Pickering of Class A Thornton Academy in Saco.