A pair of schools from big time tennis states came to Chattanooga and won the DecoTurf Boys High School Tennis Championships this weekend.
Wiregrass Ranch (north or Tampa, Fla.) remained undefeated (18-0) and defeated Memphis University School, 5-3 in the A Division finals, while Santa Margarita (Calif.) whitewashed Jenks (Okla.), 9-0 in the finals of the B Division.
A Division: With the school in its ninth year of existence, the Florida 3A defending state champion Wiregrass Ranch tennis team (No.4 seed) defeated Edmond Memorial (Okla.), St.
Xavier (Ky.) top seeded and two-time defending DecoTurf champ Hinsdale Central (Ill.) in the semis and MUS.
“We are 18-0 and have everyone back from our state championship team last year,” said head coach Dave Wilson who is the program’s first and only coach (9th season) and played soccer at Cortland State (N.Y.)
Trailing After Doubles: MUS led 2-1 after doubles and 3-2 after Nos. 1-2 singles, but the Florida boys picked up straight set wins at Nos. 4-5-6 for the title.
Senior Alejandro Feliciano clinch the match for his teammates in dramatic fashion with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 comeback win for the fifth and deciding team point.
Off to the Easter Bowl: A Division Most Valuable Player Agie Moreno (Wiregrass Ranch) had little time to enjoy his win at No. 2 singles as he and teammate Pedro Fernandez
left Champions Club immediately after their singles matches and headed to the Chattanooga Airport to catch a flight to Atlanta and then California to compete in the prestigious Easter Bowl tennis tournament in southern California.
“I was texting them the scores of the last four singles matches while they were at the airport to keep them up to date with the match,” said coach Wilson with a smile.
UTC Signee: Paul Lahue who plays No.2 singles for MUS, signed will play for UTC next season.
“I signed with UTC (in the fall) because I think I have a good opportunity to play in the top six for UTC as a freshman,” said Lahue. “I also think UTC as a nice campus, including the new library, the downtown area is great and I look forward to playing for coach Garcia.”
B Division Champs: Coach Doug Williams brought a senior laden team to Chattanooga (five seniors in the top nine) and “we are definitely pleased to win this tournament.
“But we don’t have much time to celebrate as we have a big league match Monday.”
Now in his 28th year as the team’s head coach, Williams has led his netters to league titles four out of the last five years.
His No.1 player Ryan Dugan was selected as the B Division Most Valuable Player.
Kudos to CTA: DecoTurf founder and director Brandon Feusner had nothing but praise for the Chattanooga Tennis Association and all their volunteers.
“They did a great job for us the past two weekends as did the Chattanooga Sports Committee and the folks at the Champions Club and Baylor School.”
Boys A Division Finals
Champion: Wiregrass Ranch (Fla.) 5, Memphis Univ. School 3
Wiregrass Ranch is 18-0 and defending Florida 3A state champs .. MUS is 7-1 and defending D-II AA state champs
3rd Place: Hindsdale Central (Ill.) Spartanburg (S.C.), 5-4
Hindsdale Central won the DecoTurf title in 2013, 2014
5th: Northview (Ga.) def. St. Xavier (Ky.) 6-3
7th: MICDS (Mo.) def. Cardinal Gibbons, 6-3
9th: Heritage Hall (Okla.) def. Baylor, 5-4
11th: Winter Park (Fla.) def. Pensacola Catholic (Fla.), 6-3
13th: McCallie def. Edmond Memorial (Okla.), 6-3
15th: Edwardsville (Ill). Def, Knoxville Webb, 6-3
B Division Finals
Champion: Santa Margarita (Calif) def. Jenks (Okla.) 9-0
3rd: Starr’s Mill (Ga.) def. Milton (Ga.), 9-0
5th: Tennessee High def. Vandebilt Catholic (La.), 9-0
Tenn High is D-I AAA defending champ
7th: Cambridge (Ga. def. Woodard (Ga.), 5-4
9th: Mount St. Joseph (Md.) def. Carrollon (Ga.), 5-4
11th: Siegel (Murfreesboro) def. Blessed Trinity (Ga.), 6-3
13th: Univ. School Nashville def. Signal Mtn, 6-3
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net