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Schley Plays For Deceased Teammate


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Grace's Nathan Schley Dedicates Tennis Title To Deceased Friend

 

Bucs Tarah Garner Defends Region Crown

 

This past Friday night, Grace Academy sophomore Nathan Schley was on the scene where tennis teammate Ryan Gill died in a one car accident and tomorrow Schley will help bury his classmate (service is at 10 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church and Academy) who had turned 17 on May 7.

 

This afternoon, the undefeated Schley dedicated the Region 3 A-AA singles tennis final to Gill and in front of more than 100 Grace Academy students, edged John Dorris of Notre Dame, 6-1, 6-4, and qualified for next week's state tournament in Murfreesboro.

 

Excited about the historic win ??“ Schley is the first tennis player in the program's nine-year history to qualify for the state tournament ??“ yet understanding of life's bigger issues, Schley contemplated not playing the region finals.

 

Earlier today, Gill's father, Scott, convinced Schley to play the match and even had a short practice session with the teenager prior to the match.

 

???It's great to win the region and qualify for the state tournament and today I wanted to play well for Gill,'' said the undefeated Schley.

 

After the region win, Schley quickly changed clothes and attended the Gill family visitation at Silverdale Baptist Church.

 

Joining Schley in the Region 3 winner's circle were Tarah Garner (Boyd Buchanan) in girls' singles, Will Reynolds-Andy Driggans (Chattanooga Christian) in boys' doubles and Kayla and Ahmee Kelly (Arts & Sciences) in girls' doubles.

 

Girls' Singles: In the much anticipated girls' singles final, defending state champion Garner (Boyd Buchanan) defended her region title with a 6-2, 7-6 (4) triumph against Notre Dame's Jennifer Taylor.

 

Taylor and Jennifer Brouner won the Division I A-AA state doubles title in 2008. But Brouner has graduated and Taylor chose singles for her final prep showing before enrolling at UT-Chattanooga in the fall.

 

Notre Dame's only girls' state singles champion to date is Debbie Herring in 1985. Her step-father, Chris Brown (also a Notre Dame alum), is the first player to win three state singles crowns in 1962-63-64.

 

???Jennifer is a tough player and I really wanted to get the region title and qualify for the state,'' said Garner, who also has five district singles titles to her credit and will play tennis at Lee University in the fall.

 

With several long rallies from the baseline, the players swapped strong, accurate ground strokes throughout the match.

 

???Jennifer and I have played many times and with everything on the line (one spot in the state quarters from each of eight regions), I knew I had to keep my composure, keep the ball in play and wait for opportunities to hit winners,'' stated Garner, who became the Bucs' first individual state champion in any sport with her net title last May.

 

Garner did hold her composure most of the match as she lost her serve only once in the first set, earning breaks on Taylor's serve three-times in the opener.

 

Garner had held serve six of eight times overall prior to serving for the match at 5-3 in the second. But Taylor fought off two match points, broke the soft-spoken Garner in that ninth game and eventually forced the match to a tie-breaker.

 

Taylor's undoing came, in part, to 10 double faults. One came on game point, trailing 4-1 in the first, and the final two to end the tie-breaker and the match.

 

Girls' Doubles: The Kelly sisters from Arts & Sciences are region champs defeating Signal Mountain's Danielle Linhart-Natalie Palmer, 6-1, 6-1. The Kelly's were region runners-up in 2008 to eventual state champs Taylor and Brouner from Notre Dame.

 

Listen to One Who Knows: Linhart and Palmer came within one match of making school history with a region title and a trip to the state. Their coach, Susannah Cook, knows a thing or two about playing in the state as she was 1998 region singles champ as a sophomore and lost to three-time state champ Megan Dunigan (Oak Ridge) in the state semifinals, 6-2, 6-0.

 

Match Stats:

 

Holding Serve: Garner, 7-5

 

Winner of 3-All Point: 5-5

 

Won Games, 4 Straight Points: Garner, 2-0

 

Doubles Faults: Taylor, 10-1

 

Service Ace: Garner, 2-0

 

Boys Doubles: Chattanooga Christian senior Will Reynolds has a state singles title and now wants to help teammate Andy Driggans claim a state win as well.

 

The CCS duo are one step closer to the state gold medal as they defeated Lincoln Duff-Patrick O'Brien of Collegedale, 6-0,6-0, for the Region 3 championship.

 

This is Driggans' fourth trip in state doubles with his third partner. CCS last won the state doubles in 2005 with Eric Chastain-Adam Herberich

 

Grace Academy Notes:

 

Coach Barbie Graham started the Grace Academy tennis program for the 2000-01 season ??¦ She also established the Chattanooga area middle school tennis tournament.

 

Barbie and the Bear: Graham was a walk-on in cross country at Alabama, earning two varsity letters ... she also helped legendary football coach Paul ???Bear'' Bryant recruit athletes during her four years as a student-athlete ??¦ Graham was a Junior Olympic level swimmer in high school, but chose cross country in college ... currently plays recreational tennis through the Chattanooga Tennis Association.

 

Contact B.B. Branton at [email protected]

 

 

also posted on chattanoogan.com

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