The White County Middle School tennis team is a young, and relatively new, team. While White County is putting mostly sixth graders and first year players on the courts, they find themselves facing a majority of seventh and eighth grade players from opposing schools. On Tuesday, the Warriors faced a combined team of Prescott South and Avery Trace, as the top two teams from the 2024 season have co-oped to become one powerhouse team this season.
“With half young rookies going up against the combined team of Avery Trace and Prescott South, at time, it looked like a David and Goliath matchup,” White County coach Topher Wiles said. “Even with a 2-5 loss for the girls and a 1-6 loss for the boys, our players displayed the grit and sportsmanship we expect of Warriors and Warriorettes. Last night's match shows our young team's continued growth.“
The girls team wins came from Lella Whorton, who remains undefeated in both single and doubles this season. Whorton won her singles match by a score of 6-2 and then teamed up with Sami Benson for a 6-2 doubles win as well. While sixth seed Cami Moore got credit for a 2-0 win, cut short due to lightning, team scoring only includes scores from the top 5 seeds in singles play.
“We were especially proud of Lella Whorton who kept a positive attitude and steady composure after an intense singles match were her opponent took multiple time delays due to injuries and other factors which produced tense moments involving fans, coaches and players,” Wiles said. “As usual, calmer heads prevailed and Whorton was steady throughout, sealing the solid 6-2 win over her opponent.”
On the boys' side of the team scores, the Warriors solo point from sixth grader Micah Wiles in the number one seed spot. Wiles 6-2 win keeps him undefeated in singles play so far this season.
“Even though he’s a young rookie on the team, he is learning to use his strengths to go on offense against the weaknesses of his older and bigger opponents,” Wiles said about the team’s one seed.
Other notable scores for the boys included a 3-6 loss for Henry Zuber and a 2-6 loss in a doubles pairing of Zuber and Grey Drouillard.
“Keep an eye out for Zuber wins to begin picking up as he is making rapid progress in his developing tennis game,” Wiels said, and then added that the boys’ team as a whole has a lot of potential. ““With only one returner this season and four sixth graders, we look forward to a lot of growth before the end of the season and have high hopes for next season.”
Full scores from Tuesday’s match are as follows:
Girls Singles
Girls Doubles
Boys Singles
Boys Doubles
White County Middle School tennis is at home on Thursday, as they host the Cumberland County middle school combined teams at 4pm.
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