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(NEWCASTLE ISD | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Newcastle’s Mattie Dollar with her medal for being the girls runner up in the regional tennis tournament in North Richland Hills. For qualifying for the championship match, Dollar punched her ticket to Dodd City for the state tournament Thursday, May 15. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Mattie Dollar holds up her athlete of the year award at the Newcastle spring sports banquet Tuesday, May 13. Dollar headed out to Dodd City later in the week to compete in the girls state tennis tournament.
After a long and successful season, the Newcastle tennis program’s 2025 campaign has come to an end. While ultimately not being the champion, Mattie Dollar still had a strong performance.
Dollar earned her spot in the state tournament after a strong performance at the regional championships in North Richland Hills. She won her first round matchup against Iredell High School, winning both of her sets 6-0 and 6-1 respectively.
In the second round, she faced Mount Palm High School and won both of her sets that round as well 6-1.
In the third round of day one, Dollar faced an opponent from Ector who gave her some trouble.
Dollar gutted out a 7-6 win in her first set and recomposed herself winning her second set 6-3 to advance to the championship match.
Dollar finished as the runner up in the singles tournament at the regional championships and qualified for the state tournament.
The Newcastle tennis standout traveled to Dodd City for day one of the tournament Thursday, May 15. Dollar started off strong once again, winning her first match against Baylee Rainey of Irion County.
Dollar won both of her sets against Rainey 6-3 respectively and she went into round two facing her toughest challenge yet.
In the second round, Dollar’s opponent was Kasidy Russell of McLean. Mattie got into a tight battle against Russell as she split the first two sets against her opponent according to head coach Ryan Dollar.
That meant her series against Russell and potentially her season would be on the line in a win or go home third set.
Dollar gave it her all and it was a close bout with her trailing 3-5 against Russell late in the third set, but ultimately she couldn’t overcome the deficit against Russell. Ultimately Dollar lost 4-6 effectively ending her season.
Despite the loss, that shouldn’t take away from what she was able to accomplish this season as an athlete and competitor. Finishing eighth in the state tournament is nothing to shrug at.
“Her season was amazing,” Ryan Dollar said. “Making it to the final eight in the state is a tremendous accomplishment. Super proud of her for her effort, attitude and dedication.”
Coach Dollar said that Mattie Dollar plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played and she is “an amazing young lady.”
