Published: May 16, 2008 12:11 am            

Humphrey earns all-state honors

Morgan Humphrey failed in her attempt to become retiring Enid tennis coach Darrell Herndon’s last state champion when she and Mackenzie Zaloudek lost to Jenks’ Jennifer Buntz and Lisa Waldron in the Class 6A No. 1 doubles finals May 3.

However, Humphrey will have the distinction of being Herndon’s 54th and final All-State player as she has been selected to the West girls team for the match July 29 at Edmond’s Oaktree Country Club.

“I’m glad I got to do that for him,’’ Humphrey said. “I wanted to do something good for him because he’s been such a good coach for all of those seasons. I guess some things don’t work out.’’

Humphrey and Zaloudek finished with a 38-8 record after the 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 loss to Buntz and Waldiron in the finals.

“I’m not really over that,’’ she said. “I still think about it a lot. I wanted to win, not only for myself but for coach, but this (All-State) does feel really good.’’

Humphrey, as a sophomore, was 34-7 with Mallory Tagge at No. 1 doubles and finished third at the state tournament.

Humphrey won five tournaments with Zaloudek and four with Tagge.

“I wasn’t very good at doubles in the beginning when Mallory and I played, but after so much practice you get the hang of it,’’ Humphrey said.

She played No. 1 singles as both a freshman (18-17) and junior (22-10, seventh at state and Mid-State Conference champion).

“I was able to accomplish a lot,’’ Humphrey said. “I had so much fun and I got to do so many great things and meet a lot of great people. My mom enjoyed it a lot.’’

Humphrey doesn’t plan to play in college, but will hit around this summer to prepare for the All-State match.

“It will be hard to give up tennis because it’s been in my life for so long,’’ she said.

She remains undecided between going to the University of Kansas or a fashion school in Denver.

Emily Fike and Derek Ogle were named alternates for the match.

Fike was 35-11 with four tournament titles as a senior. She had a career record of 100-45, qualifying for state three times. She was eighth at No. 2 singles as a sophomore.

Ogle was a three-time state qualifier in three different divisions — No. 2 singles (23-19 as a sophomore), No. 2 doubles with Tim Thomas as a junior and No. 1 doubles with Matt Worrell as a senior. Ogle and Thomas were sixth in the state in 2007.

He had a career doubles record of 59-48 and a singles career record of 26-22.

“They are all very deserving,’’ Herndon said.