By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The Norton Panthers secured the Metro Athletic Conference championship by winning the league tournament on Tuesday in Ravenna.

Ravenna’s Jameson Jordan stands next to the First Singles tournament bracket after placing second overall.

The Panthers entered Tuesday’s event tied with the Woodridge Bulldogs. Both programs had a 9-1 regular-season record.

Norton edged Woodridge for the title by placing first at the tourney, with the Dogs finishing as runners-up. The difference allowed Norton to finish the 2023 fall season with 19 team points, with Woodridge finishing with 17 points.

Cloverleaf placed third overall with 13.5 points, while the rest of the standings included Ravenna in fourth place (12.5 points), Field in fifth place (8.5) and Coventry in sixth place (7.5).

At first singles, Ravenna’s Jameson Jordan advanced to the tournament final as the No. 3 seed, defeating the second seed 6-1, 6-0.

Jordan was defeated in the final by Norton’s Katarina Jovanovic, 6-0, 6-1.

Field’s Olivia Bey won her fifth-place match.

Norton had another individual champion at second singles, with Faith Bounty winning 6-3, 6-4 in the final.

Ravenna’s Mallory Sterna placed third at Tuesday’s Metro Athletic Conference tournament hosted in Ravenna.

Ravenna’s Whitney Holmes placed fourth after winning her first-round matchup over Field’s Mackenzie Boley, 6-1, 6-1, but then losing in the third-place match.

Norton’s third individual title came at third singles, with Olivia Gray earning the 6-1, 6-2 final.

Ravenna’s Mallory Sterba won the third-place match, defeating her opponent 6-0, 6-4.

Woodridge won the first doubles title, while Norton took home the crown at second doubles.