CHATTANOOGA — A familiar Walker Valley name claimed the Region 3-AA individual tennis championship Monday and will be making her fourth straight trip to the TSSAA State Championships next week.
Representing Southeast Tennessee in Murfreesboro at the Spring Fling next week, Lady Mustang senior Ensley Collins repeated as Region 3 Champion, claiming two wins in the singles event, hosted at Hixson High School.
Looking for another opportunity at an individual state championship, last year’s Division I-AA State runner-up secured her ticket to Murfreesboro with wins over Soddy-Daisy’s Leah Daniels in the semifinals and McMinn County’s Hannah Davis in the title match.
“I’m really thankful for Coach (Eddie) Coates and our team of girls," Ensley proclaimed. "The team has been so supportive and encouraging. I couldn’t be happier to represent them next week.”
In the semifinal match, Collins was sharp throughout, using a combination of big serves and heavy forehands to end points quickly and earn a 6-0, 6-0 straight-sets victory.
“Ensley has continued to build her confidence throughout the season. She’s such a hard worker and sometimes her own biggest critic,” shared first-year Mustang head coach Eddie Coates, a two-time TSSAA State champion himself, of his top player.
“We are just working to keep her confidence high from start to finish and she did that all day.”
The finals match was the same recipe for Collins who used her forehand to dictate play throughout the match while mixing in a variety of serves to close the door on her Cherokee opponent and finish the match 6-2, 6-0.
“I’m happy to play well today and hope to be at my best next week for the state tournament,” Collins commented.
An Anderson (S.C.) University signee, she will be one of eight individuals that earned a spot in the TSSAA individual state tournament, beginning next week for both team and individual play.
“Tennis is a tough sport for a lot of reasons so I’m hopefull to be at my best mentallly and physically next week," Collins assessed. "In the end, I just want to play confident no matter what.”
Meanwhile, several other locals did well in Monday's region play, but couldn't quite punch their ticket.
Walker Valley senior Jose Guerrero also represented the "Blue-and-Gold" in the men’s individual single’s tournament.
Guerrero, who won the District 5 championship last week, advanced to the Region 3 finals with a hard fought win over East Hamilton’s Arav Amin, but fell short in the finals against his second Hurricane opponent of the day, Will Harden, the District 6 champion.
“This was such a fun year for me and our team. You always wish you could win one more match, but I am thankful for the opportunity to play and the accomplishments of our season,” stated Guerrero, who graduated last Thursday, and finished his career as one of the top all-around players to come through Walker Valley.
Bradley Central junior Britton Carter advanced to the region singles, but fell to Hardin 6-0, 7-5.
Bear teammates Preston Henderson and junior Hunter Field took home runner-up doubles honors, advancing to the championship with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 of East Hamilton's Evan Seo/Seth Norman in the semis.
In the hard-fought title match, Soddy-Daisy's Tyler Eddy/Braxton Warlick came out on top in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 tally.
Eddy and Warlick advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Cleveland's Arjun Patel/Alakh Patel.
The Lady Raider duo of Lauren Pitts/Addison Brock fell in the semifinals to eventual region champ Wetherly Barker/Laura Jenkins, of Soddy-Daisy.
