For the second time this year, Coupeville High School’s Aaron Curtin finished second in the District 3 singles tennis tournament and earned a trip to the state tournament.

Curtin earned the state slot by defeating Vashon Island’s Steen Jennings 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Wednesday, May 20, at Charles Wright Academy in University Place.

In the girls district tournament, Coupeville’s Jacki Ginnings and Valen Trujillo lost in the semifinals and were eliminated. Only the district champion earned a state berth.

Curtin believed he qualified for state when he finished second at district at the end of the boys season in October. A mix-up on the rules of the tournament necessitated another match for Curtin this week.

Curtin defeated Jennings in the semifinals in October and then lost in the finals to place second — or so he thought. Normally in a double-elimination tennis tournament, according to Coupeville coach Ken Stange, the winner of the consolation bracket does not get a second shot at a player he lost to earlier in the tournament. Jennings won the consolation bracket, but since he fell to Curtin, Curtin was awarded second.

A closer look at the rules for October’s tournament revealed a different format than usual and dictated Curtin and Jennings meet again.

With Curtin winning the rematch, he earned his second trip to state. Last year he qualified in doubles with then-senior Ben Etzell.

Schools in Washington have the option of playing boys tennis in the fall or spring; Coupeville plays in the fall. The state tournament is in the spring after both seasons have been completed.

Senior Ginnings fell 6-0, 6-1 to eventually champion Alexis Schorno of Charles Wright. Sophomore Trujillo lost 6-1, 6-2 Vashon Island’s Taryn Mulvihill.

Ginnings finished the year with a 10-4 record.

“She has been a tough competitor for us, and she will be missed,” Stange said. “She was a rock at No. 1 singles all season long. She could possibly be made of iron. She didn’t miss a single contest this season, and many of her matches were of the two-plus hour variety. I’m going to miss her tenacity.”