In 2006, Walker Valley won its first district girls tennis title, beat Soddy Daisy for the region championship and advanced to the state final four losing to eventual champion Houston.

 Wednesday, Walker Valley beat Soddy Daisy, 5-4, for the District 5-AAA net crown with hopes that more history repeats itself a half dozen years later.

 First year coach Elaine Policastro’s Mustangs travel to Cookeville today for the Region 3-AAA title with the winner facing the Region 4 winner next week in a state quarterfinal match.

 In Wednesday’s win, the Mustangs led 4-2 after singles, but had to win the final doubles match to claim the title.

 The Trojans evened the match at 4-4 by winning Nos. 1 and 3 doubles, but the Walker Valley team of Jami Gibson and Wendi Watson claimed the victory at No.2 doubles.

 “We are excited to win the district again and everybody did their job,” said first year coach Elaine Policastro.

 “We have played Soddy Daisy four times this year and this is the first match in which we won four singles.”

 Gibson and Watson were also the key to the district tournament championship on Tuesday and they beat Abigail Ellis and Rachel Hargis of Soddy Daisy in the semis for what proved to be the match which secured the tournament championship.

 Gibson and Watson also won their singles matches Wednesday along with Maclain Yowarsky and Reed Jones. Gibson, Watson and Yowarsky are on the all-district team.

 Soddy Daisy won the regular season and since the Mustangs won the district tournament, the two teams met again Wednesday for the District 5-AAA championship.

 “We had a good season (15-3) and our only losses were to Walker Valley,” said Trojan coach Lorri Johnson. “We have some good players coming up from the middle school program who should make the lineup as ninth graders next year.”

Girls District 5-AAA

Walker Valley 5, Soddy Daisy 4

Singles

Maclain Yoewarsky (WV) def. Callie Brannon, 8-1

Wendi Watson (WV) def. Chloe Mitchell, 8-4

Olivia Holden (SD) def. Rachel Traver, 8-4

Reed Jones (WV) def. Alex Schafer, 8-5

Jami Gibson (WV) def. Abigail Ellis, 9-7

Rachel Hargis (SD) def. Kayla Beckler, 8-4

Doubles

Brannon/Mitchell (SD) def. Yowarsku/Jones, 8-5

Watson/Gibsob (WV) def. Holden/Schafer, 8-4

Ellis/Hargis (SD) def. Tarver/Beckler, 8-1

Records: Walker Valley 10-6, Soddy Daisy 15-3

5-AAA All-District

Girls

 Ooltewah– Holly Humberger

 Rhea Co  – Addison Edwards, Melanie Johnston

 Cleveland – Maddie Ohlsson

 Soddy Daisy – Callie Brannon, Olivia Holden, Chloe Mitchell

 Walker Vallley – Jami Gibson, MacLain Yowarsky, Wendi Watson

 McMinn Co. – Taylor Thompson, Victoria Williams

 Boys

 Ooltewah – Bryson Lype, Kyle Molhusen

 Rhea Co. – Nick McWherter, Zach Madewell

 Cleveland – Alex Klibisz, Roy Callahan, Westin Laing, Zach Barringer

 Walker Valley – Grant Yost

McMinn Co – Michael Barlok, Matthew Pannell

 Soddy Daisy –  Brandt Carson

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net