Midland High's Stewart qualifies again for UIL tennis state tourney

Marisa Stewart reaches state tournament for second straight year after semifinal win at regionals.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:53am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a high school tennis match, with sharp geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the dynamic movement and intensity of the sport.Marisa Stewart's return to the UIL state tennis tournament showcases her resilience and experience in navigating the pressures of high-stakes competition.Midland Today

Midland High senior Marisa Stewart qualified for the UIL Class 6A Tennis State Tournament for the second straight year after winning her semifinal match at the Region I-6A Tennis Tournament in McKinney. Stewart defeated Prosper's Hasya Gail 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) in the semifinals before falling 6-2, 6-1 to El Paso Coronado's Makenzie Baptist in the final.

Why it matters

Stewart's return to the state tournament showcases her continued excellence and experience at the highest level of high school tennis in Texas. As a senior, this will be her fourth and final trip to the state tournament, capping off a successful career.

The details

After a rain delay pushed her semifinal match to the afternoon, Stewart remained calm and focused to defeat Gail and clinch her spot at state. She had to battle through a tight second set, fending off set points before winning the tiebreaker. Stewart also won her first-round and quarterfinal matches earlier in the tournament.

  • Stewart's semifinal match was delayed until mid-afternoon on Saturday due to daytime showers in McKinney.
  • Stewart defeated Prosper's Hasya Gail 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) in the semifinals on Saturday.
  • Stewart lost 6-2, 6-1 to El Paso Coronado's Makenzie Baptist in the final on Saturday.
  • The UIL Class 6A Tennis State Tournament will take place May 7-8 in San Antonio.

The players

Marisa Stewart

A senior at Midland High School who has qualified for the UIL state tennis tournament for the second straight year.

Hasya Gail

A tennis player from Prosper High School who Stewart defeated in the semifinals.

Makenzie Baptist

A tennis player from El Paso Coronado High School who defeated Stewart in the final.

Shelby Greene

The tennis coach at Midland High School.

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What they’re saying

“Throughout the day while the courts were drying, I just tried to stay super calm and focused. I kept reminding myself I had an important match to be played and not let the weather affect me.”

— Marisa Stewart, Midland High senior

“I tried to stay super calm and make as many balls as possible. I moved her side to side and just tired to be really consistent and not let myself get nervous. My coaches and teammates were also very positive the whole time and that also was a big factor.”

— Marisa Stewart, Midland High senior

“I definitely saw veteran experience from her because she's been here before, she knew what she had to do. All season even when she gets down, you never really know if she's upset or not about where she is because she keeps it together so well. She stays calm in those big moments and rises to the occasion. When things got tight, she stayed calm, cool and collected. She followed the game plan and did what she had to do to win.”

— Shelby Greene, Midland High tennis coach

What’s next

Stewart will compete at the UIL Class 6A Tennis State Tournament on May 7-8 in San Antonio, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2025.

The takeaway

Marisa Stewart's return to the UIL state tennis tournament showcases her resilience and experience, as she navigated a rain delay and a tight semifinal match to qualify for the event for the second straight year. Her ability to stay calm under pressure and execute her game plan has been a key factor in her success this season.