Seniors Lindsey Staub and Becca Landon of the Bexley High School girls tennis team took their own path to continue their sisters’ tradition of qualifying for the Division II state tournament.

Staub and Landon placed first in doubles in the district tournament Oct. 14 and 15 at Columbus Schools for Girls. They defeated CSG’s Mary Ann Click and Paige Quinton 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 in a district semifinal and CSG’s Lauren Gerber and Tiffany Lau 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

The top two finishers in singles and doubles at district advanced to the state tournament on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22, at Ohio State.

“It means a lot,” Staub said. “Tennis has been in my family for a long time. My sister (Ashley, a 2008 CSG graduate) went to state all four years. With this being my senior year, I hadn’t made it yet in high school.”

“I’m so excited,” said Landon, whose sister, Hillary, was a three-time state qualifier for the Unicorns. “I think Lindsey and I have a really good opportunity to do well.”

Like their older sisters, both Staub and Landon attended CSG through middle school. However, before entering high school, Staub transferred to Bexley. Landon went to Columbus Academy in eighth grade but transferred to Bexley before the start of her freshman year.

“It’s kind of a weird connection,” Staub said. “Both sisters made it to state at CSG and we’re making it to state, but we’re playing for Bexley.”

Staub played tennis her freshman and sophomore years but didn’t play last year to focus on her schoolwork.

“I regret not playing (last year) because I missed it and maybe Becca and I could have made it (to state) last year,” Staub said. “We get along so well. On the court, we just have fun together. When one of us gets mad, the other one knows how to calm the other down.”

•Football coach John Smith said having Alec Robins back at safety has made a big difference for the Lions.

In Robins’ first game back after missing two games with a knee injury, Bexley defeated Heath 41-7 on Oct. 14 to improve to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the MSL-Ohio Division. The Lions lost the two games without Robins, falling 32-14 to Newark Catholic on Oct. 1 and Academy 42-14 on Oct. 6.

Bexley limited the Bulldogs to 200 total yards, with 76 of that coming on their lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. The win was the Lions’ first victory over Heath since in a 40-27 win in 2008.

“Alec’s the heart and soul of our defense,” Smith said. “We played like we did when he was out there at the beginning of the season.”

Bexley amassed 471 total yards against Heath, with quarterback Jalen Robinette rushing for 203 yards and completing five of eight passes for 118 yards.

“We just played the kind of football we are capable of,” Smith said. “We simplified some things (last) week. We took a lot of things out of the offense and I spent some time in practice doing the things we needed to do.”

•The boys and girls cross country teams are hoping their chances of advancing to the Division II regional meet don’t get lost in the woods during the district meet on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Watkins Memorial.

“Our runners seem to like that course because a good portion of it is in the woods,” coach Eric Acton said. “It’s a two lap course, so you get a chance to gauge what is ahead of you the second time through. It’s a fairly flat course and a lot of runners end up having their personal-best times.”

The boys team will compete in district 1 at 12:30 p.m., while the girls team competes at noon. The top four teams and the top 16 individuals advance to the regional meet Oct. 29 at Pickerington North.

Bexley heads to district after a solid outing in the MSL-Ohio meet on Oct. 15.

The boys team finished third with 89 points, behind Granville (23) and Lakewood (79) and ahead of Academy (111), Heath (143), Licking Valley (144), Newark Catholic (149) and Whitehall (171).

Senior Sam Beech placed eighth in 17 minutes, 32 seconds, behind champion Jon Hilsheimer of Columbus Academy (16:49).

Also scoring were sophomores Cole Keny (16th, 17:55), Ian Kellogg (17th, 18:01) and Alex Meyer (23rd, 18:34) and junior Austin Smart (24th, 18:39).

The girls team finished second in the league meet with 63 points, behind Granville (28) and ahead of Academy (85), Heath (105), Lakewood (150), Newark Catholic (153), Licking Valley (160) and Whitehall (224).

Sophomore Regan Detwiler was eighth (21:10), behind champion Mackenzie Butler of Licking Valley (20:12).

Also scoring for the Lions were senior Abby Arace (11th, 21:34), juniors Katie Wittig (12th, 21:45) and Lindsey Mathews (14th, 21:49) and sophomore Lissy Schmidt (18th, 22:21).

“(The MSL-Ohio meet is) a good opportunity for our athletes and runners to compete against athletes who are at a high level,” Acton said. “It helps us understand what we need to do to continue through the district and regional meets.”