The DeKalb County High School tennis team has concluded their regular season with the boys' team finishing at 8-7, District Record 4-2, while the girls' team finished 5-8, District Record 3-3.
Both teams concluded the season with three match-winning streaks. The boys ended with victories over Cannon County, Warren County, and Van Buren, while the girls defeated Livingston Academy, Warren County, and Van Buren.
DCHS will compete in the individual rounds of the district tournament on Thursday, May 6, playing in both singles and doubles flights. The first matches for the Tigers begin at 9:00 am on Thursday at Cookeville High School.
Coach Brian Cadle is in his first season as the DCHS head tennis coach, with over 10 years of experience coaching in Tennessee and Indiana. He also is a social studies teacher at DeKalb County High School.
Both DCHS tennis teams entered the school year with only four players each. Coach Cadle actively recruited players at school and was able to finish the season with 12 boys and 15 girls. Coach Cadle said that DCHS is fortunate to have good numbers for their program while other schools in the area either do not have both a girls and boys team or suffer from low numbers. The majority of the Tiger players have either one year of experience or are beginners.
“The players and parents of our DCHS Tiger Tennis program are enthusiastic and excited about our season this year and our future,” Coach Cadle said. “I am working very hard to expand the game into our elementary and middle school grades, with hopes of getting a middle school team started for the next school year.”
The top boys' performers were senior Ian Paladino #1 singles and #1 doubles for the Tigers this year. Senior Dylan Trapp and junior Brett Walker lead the Tigers in singles wins with 6.
The top girls' performers were sophomore Summer Morse #1 singles and #1 doubles for the Lady Tigers this season. She leads the team in doubles victories with eight. Seniors Ellie Webb and Marissa Clark lead the Lady Tigers in singles wins with six.
“Both teams have a solid core of returning players for next season,” Cadle explained. “I am thankful for my assistant coaches, Chad Ramsey and Riley Young, who have been instrumental in helping me develop many of our beginning players into competitive players on the court.”
“We were one win away this year from qualifying for the team district tournament match against Cookeville. For now, I like where our tournament players are at this point in the season, as they are playing their best tennis at the right time. I am looking forward to our individual tournament on Thursday and feel confident that we can get some wins and qualify for the Friday rounds, and hopefully even further,” Cadle concluded.
