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MATCH POINT: 2026 UIL Tennis State Tournament Recap — Familiar Faces Claim Gold Again
Champions were crowned and dynasties continued to grow at the UIL Tennis State competition in San Antonio, where the state’s top athletes converged for a showcase packed with star power, repeat winners, and breakthrough performances across the classifications.
In Class 6A, Seven Lakes’ Allan Xu added another state title to his résumé after capturing the Boys Doubles championship one year removed from winning the Singles crown, while The Woodlands star Ahona Chowdhury claimed the Girls Singles title against a loaded field. Houston Memorial also celebrated a championship moment behind the Mixed Doubles tandem of Yosef Elyashkevich and Catherine Shen.
Class 5A featured one of the tournament’s most dominant performances, as Aaditt Rishi secured his third consecutive UIL championship, further cementing his legacy among the state’s elite competitors. Meanwhile in 4A, Taylor’s Rylee Michna captured her fourth straight UIL title, continuing a remarkable run of consistency on Texas’ biggest stage.
Across every bracket, this year’s tournament reinforced why Texas remains one of the premier hotbeds for high school tennis talent in the nation.
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UIL TENNIS STATE TOURNAMENT
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE BRACKETS FROM THE UIL STATE TOURNAMENT
CLASS 6A
Location: Northside Tennis Center -- San Antonio, TX
BOYS SINGLES
Champion: Sebastian Zavala (Allen)
Runner-Up: Aidan Xu (Seven Lakes)
BOYS DOUBLES
Champion: Allan Xu & Matei Calin (Seven Lakes)
**2nd championship for Xu, who won the 6A Singles title in 2024
Runner-Up: Brandon Brown & Sebastian Dasprez (Strake Jesuit)
GIRLS SINGLES
Champion: Ahona Chowdhury (The Woodlands)
Runner-Up: Makenzie Baptist (Coronado)
GIRLS DOUBLES
Champion: Jastine Escamos & Angela Shu (Clements)
**2nd championship for Escamos, who won the 6A Mixed Doubles title last spring
Runner-Up: Natasha Rosseland & Isabella Young (Clements)
MIXED DOUBLES
Champion: Yosef Elyashkevich & Catherine Shen (Houston Memorial)
Runner-Up: Daniel Nelligan & Karina Zaharieva (Clear Lake)
CLASS 5A
Location: Northside Tennis Center -- San Antonio, TX
BOYS SINGLES
Champion: Aaditt Rishi (Lebanon Trail)
***3rd consecutive state championship for Rishi, who won the 5A Mixed Doubles crown for the past two seasons
Runner-Up: Brodie Keller (W.T. White)
BOYS DOUBLES
Champion: Steven Hu & Collier Muenker (Highland Park)
Runner-Up: Aarohan Sharma & Akshay Kommineni (Centennial)
GIRLS SINGLES
Champion: Hope Willis (Abilene Wylie)
**Back-to-back championships for Willis
Runner-Up: Victoria Torres (CC Flour Bluff)
GIRLS DOUBLES
Champion: Olivia Hefley & Sara Shelhamerf (Amarillo)
Runner-Up: Ella Wertz & Dylan Liebhardt (Wakeland)
MIXED DOUBLES
Champion: Sara Gyoergy & Noah Malin (Grapevine)
Runner-Up: Caleb Hobbs & Hannah Hobbs (Midlothian)
CLASS 4A
Location: Annemarie Tennis Center -- San Antonio, TX
BOYS SINGLES
Champion: Aariz Rehman (Panther Creek)
**Back-to-back championships for Rehman
Runner-Up: Cale Gray (Panther Creek)
BOYS DOUBLES
Champion: Parker Hollingsworth & Max Haakenstad (Lindale)
Runner-Up: Koushal Damacharla & Bowen Young (Celina)
GIRLS SINGLES
Champion: Rylee Michna (Taylor)
****4th straight UIL title for Michna
Runner-Up: Amanda Tanaka (Richland)
GIRLS DOUBLES
Champion: Lillian Kate Carson & Kennedy Carson (Wimberley)
Runner-Up: Caroline White & Madelynn White (Lampasas)
MIXED DOUBLES
Champion: Jensen Betzen & Kynley Craddock (Canyon Randall)
***3rd straight championship for Craddock, who won the 4A Mixed Doubles competition a year ago
Runner-Up: Cooper Richardson & Hannah Terry (Canyon)
WRITING HISTORY: Crawford’s Maya Hanks is a Nightmare at the Plate
WITH EVERY AT-BAT, EVERY GAME, MAYA HANKS IS CARVING HER NAME INTO THE RECORD BOOKS AT CRAWFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
Hanks is the program’s all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category, wielding a mighty bat that has become the stuff of district nightmares. But she’s more than just a hitter — she’s the quarterback on the diamond, commanding the defense from behind the plate as a catcher.
“At the plate, I have the mindset of ‘yes, yes, yes… no,’” the junior said. “I’m going up there ready to swing. It’s my thing. Swinging the bat.”
That confidence is built on countless hours of work. Inside her garage sits a hitting tee and net — a quiet training ground where she’s sharpened her craft.
“My dad was behind that,” she laughed. “My parents have been supportive over the years, doing anything to help me realize my dreams. I’ve been on this journey since I was eight years old and I’ve always had a passion for the game. It’s my friend group too.”
Her journey will take her to Prairie View A&M University in 2027, where she’ll continue her career at an HBCU — a choice that means more than just softball.
“I love the environment there,” she said. “Playing at an HBCU was important to me. It’s going to be a great place for me to grow as a player and a person.”
And her ambitions stretch beyond the diamond. Prairie View’s animal science program aligns perfectly with her future goals.
“They have a great animal science program, and that’s what I want to do when I get older.”
Her love for animals starts at home with her chihuahua, Carly.
“I’m obsessed with animals,” she said. “I have such a love for them that I want to help them when they’re sick or hurt.”
Soft-hearted off the field. Fearless on it.
“People might not know that I love horror movies,” she laughed. “I can watch them in the middle of the day or at three in the morning. Scream is my all-time favorite. I just love the adrenaline.”
Adrenaline is something pitchers know well when she steps into the batter’s box.
Because while she may love horror films — Maya Hanks is the real nightmare at the plate.