Ten straight for Webb girls; boys tennis 8 of 10 at state
MURFREESBORO — There are sports dynasties and then there’s the Webb School of Knoxville girls tennis program.
The Lady Spartans are on a roll as few have ever seen in Tennessee high school sports. They won their 10th consecutive Division II-A state team championship late last week.
Webb claimed its latest title Wednesday, May 22, when it recorded a 4-0 shutout over St. George’s at the Adams Tennis Complex at Old Fort Park.
The Lady Spartans lost eight sets in four singles matches en route to claiming the state title.
At No. 1 singles, Audrey Yoon defeated Hannah Howell 6-1, 6-0. Carina Dagotto claimed a victory at No. 2 when she downed Caroline McDowell 6-1, 6-2. Caroline Ross won versus Sidney Marr 6-1, 6-0 and Lili Roth defeated Sara Matheson 6-2, 6-1.
Titles may seem to come easily for the team, but no one associated with the program takes anything for granted — and winning always feels good.
“That was just amazing,” said Ross, who recently completed a five-year career with the Lady Spartans by teaming with Dagotto to win a state doubles title Friday, May 24.
That, however, was a bitter-sweet experience for the champions because they beat teammates Roth and Delaney Bone 6-0, 6-0 to win the championship match.
“The good thing is that we won a state championship,” Dagotto said. “The bad thing is that we had to beat our teammates to get it.
“They’re great players and we’re all great friends.”
Webb head coach Jimmy Pitkanen said he knows he’s lived a charmed life as a tennis coach, but he’s been in similar situations before when players (both boys and girls) have to beat teammates to win individual titles.
“I’m not going to say anything except that the good thing is that we’re going to win it,” Pitkanen said. “But the bad thing is that we’re going to lose it.”
Webb defeated a familiar opponent in the team semifinals earlier in the week: 4-0 against Christian Academy of Knoxville.
Yoon, a junior who was pivotal in Webb winning the team title, won her first state singles title Friday when she beat Silverdale Christian Academy’s Addison Horton 6-2, 6-1.
“This is amazing,” she said. “I’m just glad to have gotten the chance to play with my friends.”
Division I Large School
Among Division I Large Schools, Knoxville Catholic High School senior Keileen Cullen qualified for the state tournament. She lost in the quarterfinals to Hendersonville’s Lucy Sims 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
The Lady Irish also had a doubles team in the Midstate.
Sara Allen and Vivian Schroeder lost in the quarterfinals to Alex Torre and Georgia Fischer 6-0, 6-1. The Brentwood duo would go on to claim the state title.
