Rickert wins PNW Level 4 Open singles championship

Full caption: Pepper Rickert, a junior at Sandpoint High, recently defeated long-time hitting partner Caitlynn Ying of Mercer Island, Wash., to win a United States Tennis Association Level 4 Open girls singles championship held Oct. 24 through Oct. 26 at the Vancouver Tennis Center in Vancouver, Wash. Rickert, competing in the 16-and-under division, defeated Ying by a score of 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in a mental and physical battle that included long, strategic and aggressive points. After a first-round bye amongst the 32-player draw, Rickert defeated Rachel Zhang of Portland, Ore. 6-4, 6-2, Lilah Mithun of Milton, Wash. 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, and Sonia Haggie of Menlo Park, Calif. 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals. Haggie's attacking style challenged Rickert, but she was able to counter with her strong serve and some well-placed power of her own. The back-to-back Idaho 5A state singles champion will return to the Vancouver Tennis Center this Saturday and Sunday for a USTA Level 4 Open girls doubles championship. She'll pair up with Kate Bonetto of Bend, Ore., and will compete in the 18-and-under division.