MASON — Bexley freshman Amiya Bowles won the girls tennis program’s first state singles title in 40 years, capturing the Division II championship Oct. 22 at Lindner Family Tennis Center.

Bowles defeated Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy’s Sophia Thompson 6-0, 6-3 in the final.

The only other central Ohio competitors to reach the second day of state were New Albany juniors Paige Cornelius and Richardlyne Francois, who lost to Centerville’s Caroline Hinshaw and Clara Owen 6-1, 6-1 in the Division I doubles final.

Bowles finished the season 21-0 and was never forced into a third set. In her first nine postseason matches, she won 6-0, 6-0, including in the opening round of state against Clyde’s Curtsin Hackenburg.

She said remaining patient was key to coming away with the championship.

“I knew I had to not look too far ahead because even though it was 40-love, I still had to keep playing like I was down love-40,” said Bowles, who was Bexley’s first state singles champion since two-time champion Jane Cohoes in 1982. “I had to stay focused and determined and the point will come. It will be good if I kept pushing.”

In a semifinal earlier in the day, Bowles defeated Toledo Ottawa Hills’ Catherine Rhegness 6-0, 6-1. Rhegness entered the match unbeaten without losing a set.

In the final, Bowles fell behind 2-0 in the second set.

“This (state title) was (Bowles’) goal all along, and she reached it,” Bexley coach Heath Goolsby said. “In the final, we knew (Thompson) would make a run sometime in the match because she’s a talented player. Amiya became more aggressive and went up to the net more and that helped.”

Cornelius and Francois reached the doubles final by defeating Rocky River Magnificat’s Anna Mancino and Caroline Moritz 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in a semifinal. In the final, they lost to the defending champions.

“Richie and I didn’t know what we were getting into last year (when we lost in the first round), and that experience definitely helped us this year,” Cornelius said. “We practiced and we knew what we needed to do, so we played a lot better.”

The Eagles play Mason in a Division I state semifinal of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team tournament Oct. 23 at Cincinnati St. Xavier. It will be the first appearance in the state team tournament for New Albany since 2006, when it was in Division II.

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