Royals lose to GRC in tennis team region semis; seeds announced for singles and doubles tournament

The Mason County Royals lost to the George Rogers Clark Cardinals 3-0 in the 10th Region tennis team tournament on Saturday at Bourbon County.

The individual and doubles region tournaments start on Monday.

According to Coach Clay Boone for the first time in program history, Mason County has seeded players in all girls' and boys' events.

Here are the seeds:

No. 2 boys' singles, Evan Smith

No. 3 girls' singles, Tori Lavinder

No. 3 girls' doubles, Bailey Boone and Eden Abshire

No. 4 boys' doubles, Sam Clark and Alex Wood

Mason County tennis will host the Roger Hendrickson Memorial Showcase today

The Mason County tennis program will host the Roger Hendrickson Memorial Showcase today at the new tennis facility across the street from the Mason County baseball field and Straub Elementary School.

"Really excited to honor Roger as he gave so much time & committment to this community," Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone wrote in a post on X.

The Royals will scrimmage Bracken County.

Here is the schedule:

3:40 p.m. players warmup 

4:15 p.m. presentation in memory of Hendrickson

4:30 p.m. match play vs. Bracken County

March 6th @ 4:15 pm Mason County Tennis program is hosting the Roger Hendrickson Memorial showcase at the new tennis facility as Bracken County will be participating in a scrimmage match. Really excited to honor Roger as he gave so much time & commitment to this community. pic.twitter.com/XBurYHl2tA

— Clay Boone (@clay223) March 6, 2025

Clay Boone named USTA Kentucky Tennis Official of the Year

Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone has been named the United States Tennis Association Kentucky Tennis Official of the Year.

The USTA announced its Kentucky award winners on Wednesday.

Mason County Summer Tennis Program begins June 5

The 2019 Mason County Summer Tennis Program will take place Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon June 5 through July 31 at the Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park.

The program is for students in grades 2 through 12.

Clay Boone and Matt Jolley are the instructors. 

Students will learn warm-up drills, movement, training exercises, mechanics and match drills. Instruction will be given each session to enhance player performance.

There is a $10 fee each session. Rackets are available.

For more information, contact Coach Boone at 606-407-5153.

Mason County Tennis Camp June 25-29

The Mason County Tennis Camp will be held June 25-29 at the Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park. 

The advanced and intermediate camp is for ages 8-18.

The instructors are Kevin Fulton, Clay Boone and Matt Jolley.

The daily schedule is:

9-11 a.m.: warn-up drills, movement, training exercises and match drills.

11 a.m.- 12 p.m.: stroke development and games.

Camp t-shirts will be included.

The cost is $75 per session.

For more information, call Clay Boone at 606-407-5153.

Matt Jolley named tennis coach at Mason County

Matt Jolley is the new girls and boys tennis coach at Mason County. Here is the press release:

Maysville--- The Mason County Athletic Department is proud to announce the hiring of Matt Jolley as the new boys and girls tennis coach.  Coach Jolley will meet with his players in the upcoming weeks.

Jolley has recently assisted coaching outdoor track and was also involved in helping the tennis team last season at Mason County.

Prior to this time at Mason County, Jolley was a part time tennis coach for Edge Tennis Academy in Hoover, Alabama.  Jolley also played college tennis at Gadsden State Community College in Gadsden, Alabama where he served as a co-captain.

In making the transition, Assistant Athletic Director Chris Ullery said Jolley was exactly the type of coach they were looking to hire.

“As an athletic department, we are always searching for a candidate that will represent our school the correct way and work well with our student athletes. Coach Jolley has a passion for the sport and is very experienced in both playing and teaching tennis.  It was very difficult to see Coach Clay Boone resign.  Coach Boone did a phenomenal job with our tennis program.  Matt has the same passion and energy about the game.  We are very happy that our tennis staff will stay in place and Coach Boone and Coach Conrad will continue to work with our youth, and continue to build the program. Coach Gray will also continue to help with program.  This switch worked out as well as it could for both boys and girls tennis, which is coming off an outstanding year on the courts. Our tennis program has shown immense improvement under the leadership of Coach Boone.”

Jolley is very excited to lead the Royals tennis program.

“My number one goal for these kids is to have fun, but develop a strong work ethic. With that combination, the winning will take care of itself. I know we have a young boys team where there is a lot of potential, we just need all the kids to buy in to the goal of getting better every day and continue to build off last years’ season.  I would like the girls to repeat what they did last year. We didn’t lose any girls to graduation, so I really feel like it is possible.  We just have to work extra hard because being number one means everyone is trying to knock you off the top.”

Jolley on why he wanted to take the job.

“I love tennis and I believe in the Mason County School System. I want to continue to build on what Coach Boone has started.  I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without him, none of this is possible.  I would like to thank my wife, Amanda, for allowing me to take the time to work with these kids doing what I love.  I’d like to thank the administration for having the confidence in me to take over where Coach Boone left off.  I’d like to thank my friends and family for their support over the years.”

For further questions, please contact Ullery at 606-301-3708 or Chris.Ullery@mason.kyschools.us or Assistant Athletic Director Jeremy Hawkins at 606-748-4208 or Jeremy.Hawkins@mason.kyschools.us

2017 Mason County Tennis Camp June 27-30

The 2017 Mason County Tennis Camp is scheduled June 27-30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park.

The camp, for ages 8-18, will include warm-up drills, movement, training exercises, match drills, stroke development and games.

Campers will receive a T-shirt.

Clay Boone and Kevin Fulton will be the instructors.

The camp fee is $75.

For more information or to register, contact Boone.

Chuck Tompkins and Clay Boone on SportsTalk

River Valley Challenge champion Chuck Tompkins and Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone were my guests on SportsTalk this morning.

Here is a link to the podcast.

Lady Royals region champs for first time since 1991

The Mason County Lady Royals are the 10th Region tennis champions for the first time since 1991.

No. 1 seed Tessa Gray won the singles tournament, and Haley White and Mallory Conrad won the doubles tournament Wednesday at Harrison County.

The Lady Royals edged Highlands for the team title.

In the semifinals, Gray defeated Paxton Glenn of Campbell County 6-1, 6-0. 

Gray beat Mia Smith of Highlands 6-0, 6-2 in the championship match.

"She's a true champion," Mason County coach Clay Boone said of Gray. "She's earned it; she looks forward to the state tournament."

White and Conrad, seeded 4th, beat Lanza and Gill of Harrison County 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals.

"Our returns were just excellent," Boone said. "We were hitting big targets, closing out balls through the middle, really being the aggressor. They called us the big bullies on court. We were really controlling the court yesterday in doubles."

In the championship match, White and Conrad upset No.1 seed Highlands 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

"They told me on the changeover, 'coach we're going to be champions today,'" Boone said. 

The Lady Royals received a police escort from the county line to the high school by the Mason County Sheriff's Department.

"It's a special time for Mason County tennis," Boone said. "It's a special time for the community. I'm just proud to be along for the ride with these kids."

The girls state tennis tournament will be played May 18-20 at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex. 

10th Region tennis pairings set; Tessa Gray is the No. 1 seed

Mason County junior Tessa Gray is the No. 1 seed in the 10th Region girls singles tennis tournament.

The tournaments are scheduled to begin Friday at Harrison County, but the weather might not cooperate. The forecast calls for rain.

Mason County coach Clay Boone is the tournament manager.

Here are the brackets:

Mason Co. tennis coach Clay Boone on SportsTalk

Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone was my guest on SportsTalk this morning. Here is a link to the podcast.

Mason. Co. tennis coach Clay Boone on SportsTalk

Mason County tennis coach Clay Boone was my guest on SportsTalk this morning. Here is a link to the podcast,