Tennis action starts Tuesday

The boys tennis teams at University School of Jackson and Trinity Christian Academy have been close to team state championships in recent years.

TCA has been to the past two Class A-AA state tournaments but has come away without a championship trophy.

USJ last won a championship in 2009 but has repeatedly finished second in the state.

Both teams like their chances this week as they disposed of their sectional (Division I) and sub-state (Division II) competition in less than an hour.

“Our guys expect to win state, and that’s how it should be,” said USJ coach Ted Measley after the Bruins eliminated Battle Ground Academy on Thursday. “We’re playing well right now because the guys are up here nearly every day practicing and working against each other to get better.”

H.S. TENNIS: USJ's Markos, Reasons win state title

TCA coach Phillip Robinson had similar statements about his team after they eliminated McNairy Central on Thursday.

“We’ve come close the last couple years, and last year we got a little closer than we did the year before,” Robinson said. “So we’ll try to get a little closer, compete a little better and see if we can come away with a trophy.”

Robinson will be pulling double duty as the school’s girls tennis team made state for the first time with a come-from-behind win over Dyersburg.

Lindy Tatum has made it to Spring Fling in past years as an individual, and she leads the Lady Lions to the state tournament.

“This will be different for the rest of the girls, but I like how they gutted a win over Dyersburg out,” Robinson said. “As a coach, I’d like to avoid falling behind in singles play, but if we can make it to doubles, you never know what can happen against anybody.

“But I think we have as good a chance as anybody. There’s a reason why we’re still playing, and they’re confident in each other to compete.”

Team play will happen Tuesday and Wednesday, while doubles and singles action will be Thursday and Friday.

Here’s a rundown of singles players and doubles teams who will compete later in the week:

Boys

• Cam Presley and Will Richardson (TCA) will play McNairy’s Sam Pierce and Grant Goodman.
• Ben Sidwell (TCA) plays Rory Glatt from L&N STEM, a small school in Knoxville.
• Jacob Escue (South Gibson) puts his undefeated streak on the line against Knoxville Catholic’s Jacob Lorino.
• Mason Woods (USJ) will play Zion Christian’s Timmy O’Brien.
• Paul Markos (USJ) plays University School of Nashville’s George Corzine.
• USJ’s Cade Reasons and George Markos begin their quest for a second straight state championship against Clayton Jelsma and Jackson Schneele from US-Nashville.
• Garrett Evans and Andre Gregory from USJ are matched up with Noah Baker and Sam Burruss from Friendship Christian.

Girls

• Lauren Presley and Kennedy Brookfield from TCA will play Gracie and Tessa Liljenquist from Dyersburg.
• TCA’s Lindy Tatum will play Nellina Wooten from Obion County.
• Hardin County’s Julia Mazanek is the lone local representative in Class AAA as she plays Lainey Hill from Dobyns Bennett.
• Suzanna Camp and Spencer Hancock will represent USJ against Thalia Stein and Mia Pretorius from US-Nashville.
• Ashley Willis from USJ will play Carina Dagotto from Knoxville Webb.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751