Preliminary round play became first round play and that turned into qualifying matches as Maine’s top high school tennis players battled one another last Saturday in the state singles tournaments.

Those boys or girls players reaching the qualifying round were one victory away from getting into the Round of 40 portion of the tourney that will be played at Bates College beginning Friday, May 25.

Chelsea Norton of Westbrook scored an 8-0 win in the prelims and then topped Alex Mack, the No. 14 seed from North Yarmouth Academy, in the first round of play. She moved on with another victory in the qualifying round – a 6-1, 6-0 win over Amy Gifford of Maranacook.

Joining Norton at Bates College next week will be Kate Bowring of Gorham. Bowring was seeded 16th to start Saturday’s event and she topped Fiona Wilson of Portland, 8-1, before moving on with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Dorothea Crowley of South Portland.

Several other local ladies made it into the qualifying round.

EmJay Williams of Westbrook was knocked from the tourney by No. 3 seed Amanda Slack of Cape Elizabeth (6-1, 6-1). Williams did score an 8-4 win in the first round of play.

Libby Johnston of Gorham knocked off Kayla Frechette of Winthrop in the first round (8-6), but then Johnston was bumped from the tourney by Nicole Willey of Windham (6-1, 6-1).

Kelsey Wilson of Gorham earned an 8-4 win in the first round before dropping a 6-2, 7-5 decision to Susan Barton of York in the qualifying round.

And Karli Kesson of Bonny Eagle grabbed a first round win before seeing her tourney play come to an end with a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Melissa Slack of Cape Elizabeth in the qualifying round.

Perkins, Bergeron move on

Eben Perkins of Westbrook has reached the Round of 40 thanks to some solid play last Saturday. The Blazes’ senior was seeded 11th and he opened with a convincing 8-2 victory over Nathan Valliere of Biddeford in the first round and he completed his successful day with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Brendan Shumway in the qualifying round.

Aaron Bergeron of Gorham will also play another day thanks to a strong effort last Saturday. Bergeron was seeded 10th to start the tourney and he scored an 8-3 win over Adam Saltz of Scarborough in the first round. Bergeron then made his way to the Round of 40 with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Cameron Blake of Lincoln Academy.

Isaac Pease of Gorham won twice before losing a 6-2, 6-0 match in the qualifying round. Nathan Patrick Shaw of Gorham also competed in last week’s tourney.

Also competing for Westbrook last week were David Born and Brian Cooke. Bonny Eagle players at last Saturday’s event included Andrew Bingham, Nathan Hanley, and Darren Choate.