On Tuesday, May 26, Hagerstown freshman phenom Sophia Tinkle took the first step toward the state championship by winning the Mount Vernon (Fortville) individual sectional championship.
Tinkle qualified to participate in the Indiana High School Athletic Association individual state championship tournament when she finished play during the Richmond tennis team championship without a loss at No. 1 singles.
Tinkle defeated Peyton McDaniel, the No. 1 singles player from Knightstown, by scores of 6-0, 6-2 in her opening-round match and then defeated Kate Gilkinson, the No. 1 singles player from Greenfield-Central, by scores of 6-4, 6-1 in the championship match played on Wednesday, May 27.
Tinkle will now advance to the individual regional to be played on Saturday, June 6, at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Her opponent will be the No. 1 singles player from the Brownsburg Individual Sectional championship.
A version of this article appeared in the June 3 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
