10 Nashville-area storylines for Spring Fling

Spring Fling, an Olympic-style festival that features the high school athletic association's five spring sports of baseball, boys soccer, softball, tennis and track and field, begins Monday with the pentathlon and first day of the decathlon.

Here are 10 storylines to monitor this week in Murfreesboro.

Lucky No. 13

Ensworth senior Tyra Gittens is chasing history this week at Dean A. Hayes Stadium. With a win in Monday’s Division II pentathlon – an event she has won the past three years — the 12-time state track champion and Texas A&M signee would become the most decorated female track athlete in state history.

She's currently tied with former Anderson County and Vanderbilt standout Josie Hahn, who won 12 individual state titles from 1998-2001.

RELATED

• TSSAA Spring Fling schedule
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District 12-AA represented

Spring Hill and fellow District 12-AA foe Christ Presbyterian Academy can meet for a fifth time this season if both advance to the Class AA baseball state championship. It wouldn't be a stretch, either.

Spring Hill defeated CPA in last year's title game. CPA holds a 3-1 advantage this season over the Raiders.

Another sweep?

Brentwood’s Somer Henry and Sam Fischer will look to continue their Class AAA tennis dominance this week at Old Fort Park.

Henry, a junior Indiana commitment, will be gunning for her third girls state single titles in as many seasons. Fischer, a senior Alabama signee, will be looking to make it two in a row. Henry takes on Munford’s Lydia Jones in Thursday’s 9 a.m. quarterfinal, while Fischer squares off against Hardin Valley’s Thomas Loaiza at 9.

Drought over

Beech ended a 35-year drought when it defeated Summit 7-1 to reach its first Class AAA baseball state tournament since 1982. The 1982 title came in the Buccaneers' second year as a school.

Cuneo vs. Story

The top two Class A/AA female distance runners over the past three years are primed for another showdown in the 1,600-meter run. Christian Academy of Knoxville's Rebecca Story, who won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 a year ago, will attempt to win the three distance events again this year.

Central Magnet's Taylor Cuneo, who won all three in 2015 as a freshman, has battled health issues the past two seasons. However, Cuneo's time of 5:05.93 was the fastest A/AA sectional time in the state, edging Story by more than four seconds.

First timer for Henry Co.

Henry County broke through for its first state softball tournament appearance this season.

In doing so, the Lady Patriots snapped Dickson County's string of four straight championship game appearances. Henry County beat Dickson County 6-1 in their sectional.

CPA back for more

CPA soccer will have a chance to reach its fourth straight title in as many years. 

The Lions saw their string of back-to-back titles snapped a year ago against Christian Academy of Knoxville. CAK also returns to the tournament field.

7-AAA sweep

Siegel will not get a chance to defend its Class AAA baseball state title. But two schools from Rutherford County will get a chance to become the second from District 7-AAA to bring home a baseball championship.

Blackman and Stewarts Creek play Tuesday in their respective tournament brackets. Stewarts Creek was a final four team a year ago. Blackman is in its first state tournament since 2009.

Chasing titles

Both Goodpasture's baseball and softball teams have a rich history at Spring Fling. The softball program has won nine titles. Baseball has won eight.

However, both are attempting to snap noticeable droughts. The Lady Cougars' last softball title came in 2011. The last baseball championship came in 2008.

Quick turnaround

Either Waverly or Greenbrier won't get much time to celebrate making the Class AA softball state tournament. Their sectional, which was originally scheduled for Saturday has been pushed to noon Monday because of rain. 

The winner plays Elizabethton at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the state tournament.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com or 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager. Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com or 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNSports.