The Maine Principals Association has moved the state singles and doubles tennis tournament from the outdoor courts at Bates College in Lewiston to the indoor facility in the Colby College Fieldhouse in Waterville due to weather concerns.
A high chance of showers throughout the day on Thursday has forced them to move the play indoors, according to the MPA.
The schedule has also been adjusted to reduce multiple trips for the schools farthest away.
On Thursday, Aroostook County and Washington County players will not be involved in the two boys’ prelim doubles event, the 10 boys’ first-round singles competition and the 12 girls first-round singles matches.
There are also two girls’ prelim doubles matches, but there are no players or teams from Aroostook or Washington County.
Players from those counties as well as players from other far away schools will be involved in Friday’s 10 remaining boys first round singles matches, the remaining 12 girls first-round singles matches and the two boys prelim doubles competitions.
The final two girls prelim doubles matches will also be held, but there are no teams from more distant schools.
Mike Bisson, the assistant executive director of the MPA, explained that they didn’t want players coming from farther distances playing on Thursday and then have the winners either have to stay two nights or go home and return on Saturday.
On Saturday at Bates College and Edward Little High of Auburn’s outdoor courts, there will be 24 boys singles matches and 24 girls singles matches held to whittle the field down to the final eight in both, and there will be 12 boys and 12 girls doubles matches to trim the field down to the semifinals.
On Sunday at Bates College, the boys and girls doubles semifinals and finals will be held along with the boys and girls quarterfinals and semifinals.
The boys and girls singles championship matches will be held at Bates on Monday.
