Platte County’s combination of experience and talent creates a window of opportunity to put together team and individual postseason success in a manner befitting of a consistently successful program.
All but one contributor from a 13-7 team a year ago that reached the Class 2 District 8 championship dual for a fourth straight season — all against St. Pius X in what has become a an unofficial rivalry. St. Pius X’s 5-0 victory gave the Warriors back-to-back playoff appearances and the third in four years.
In 2023, Platte County won the only team district title in program history. The past two seasons produced the only the Pirates’ only wins in singles and doubles at the Class 2 MSHSAA Tennis Championships.
Now, Platte County hopes to make a deep playoff run as a team and produce at least one more all-state finish from individuals.
“We’re really excited. We’re building something good, hopefully,” said Scott Blakley, a long-time assistant entering his second season as head coach.
Platte County senior Ellie Kaser and junior Macie Keith return at the top of the lineup. The two third-year starters won the Class 2 District 8 doubles title and then went 1-2 at state and just missed all-state status.
Prior to 2025, Platte County’s state-qualifying doubles teams were a combined 0-12 all-time dating back to Lisa Wyrwinski and Rachel Bumstead’s appearance in 2009.
Kaser, who joined Olivia Holbrook and Addie Mayne as Platte County’s only two-time state qualifiers, returns at No. 1 while Keith, seniors Addison Fleming and Macy Doll, juniors Katelyn Newberry and Jayne Muir, sophomore Clare Hayter and freshman Shaylin Keith make up a competitive top eight. Macie Keith played No. 2 last season, while Muir (No. 4), Doll (No. 5) and Hayter (No. 6) also finished the season in the lineup for singles.
Newberry played No. 3 doubles down the stretch after Fleming suffered a season-ending dislocated knee cap in a win over Ruskin.
The lineup gelled late with Platte County putting together a stretch of 10 wins in a span of 12 duals after a 3-5 start. The Pirates had won nine straight before the loss to St. Pius X in the title game, a run that incidentally started after a 9-0 loss to the same team in the regular season.
How the order shakes out this season remains to be seen with senior Lillian Goodale opting not play after being in the No. 3 spot for singles and pairing with Doll at No. 2 doubles last fall.
With postseason assignments yet to be released, Platte County expects to again compete with Grain Valley for the Suburban Conference White Division title with St. Pius X again expected as the top competition in Class 2 District 8. However, adjustments to the Missouri State High School Activities Association’s championship factor for private schools could lead to shuffles.
Regardless, Platte County expects to compete but won’t take anything for granted against a tough schedule.
“We’re gonna lose,” Blakley said. “We’re going to lose points; we’re going to lose matches, but as a team, the goal is to build each other up and to keep working and win the next point. I think there’s a lot of good life lessons in that, not just on the tennis court.”
The clear-cut No. 2 seed last year’s seven-team Class 2 District 8 bracket, Platte County gained a lot of valuable experience. In addition to Kaser and Macie Keith, Doll started all or part of the past two seasons while Muir and Hayter made postseason debuts.
Platte County’s biggest postseason accomplishments have all come since 2023, starting with a playoff bid that ended with a loss in the Class 2 quarterfinals to Thomas Jefferson Independent. The Pirates didn’t have any individual victories at state until Maggie McBratney’s eighth-place singles finish in 2024, and Kaser and Macie Keith helped add to that success after the graduation of the all-stater at No. 1.
