McKeel's Hutto, Steeves win 1st match then fall in quarterfinals at state tournament

McKeel sophomore Jada Hutto has made it to the state tournament every year she has played varsity tennis with the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, but she and doubles partner Sarah Steeves wanted more than to play just one match.

Hutto and Steeves got the win in their first match before falling in the overall quarterfinals to Satellite's Ellie Carpenter and Maya Boysen on Wednesday at the 2023 FHSAA Girls Tennis Championships at Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford.

"I'm glad I made it to state, but I'm also glad we won our first match," Hutto said. "A one-and-done wouldn't have been super good, but I think we played really well our second match."

Hutto and Steeves began the day by defeating Brooksville Hernando's Jacqueline Cuevas and Mia Liu 6-1, 6-1. Going into their next match against Carpenter and Boysen, Hutto knew it wasn't going to be as easy.

"I think you can always tell in the warm-up, how they're hitting, how they're carrying themselves," Hutto said. "We could see it was going to be a more challenging match."

Carpenter and Boysen won, 6-2, 6-0. They went on to win the individual bracket final and will play for the doubles state title.

"Overall, I feel we played pretty well," Hutto said. "It was a good match against both teams, and it was a good match to finish out the season together."

For Hutto, it was the end of the high school season, but she'll return next year. In between, she'll play in some junior tournaments and she practices with a private coach. At McKeel this season, she moved up to No. 1 singles and lost only to Auburndale's McKenna Battilla before falling in the district final.

"I've played so many different people throughout the season," Hutto said. "State was just an extension of that.

Steeves' high school career ends at state tournament

"Even if I didn't make it to state at No. 1 singles, playing No. 1 doubles was great." For Steeves, a senior, it is the end of her high school career.

"I think I was impressed with how we played," she said. "I mean, I was kind of there to enjoy it. It was my last match of high school, so I just wanted to have fun and also just see how far we can go. I was impressed with the fact that we can get to the (individuals bracket) semifinals at least. And, yeah, we had a good time."

Steeves had genuine joy knowing that her high school career ended playing in the state tournament.

"It was really exciting honestly because I didn't know that we were going to states at first, and I honestly didn't expect it throughout the season," she said. "So I was really excited about that and it definitely meant a lot to end it there instead at districts."

Steeves is headed to the University of Florida where she will major in civil engineering. She plans to play tennis for the club team.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Girls tennis: McKeel's Hutto, Steeves go 1-1 at state tournament