Valwood’s boys and girls tennis teams competed at the GISA 3A state team tennis tournament Tuesday at the John Drew Tennis Center in Macon.
The Valiant boys team made it to the semifinals while the girls squad finished as the state runners up.
After an 0-13 season in 2017, the boys team finished with an 11-2 record in 2018, featuring an unprecedented state singles run by eighth grader Howell Burns and a doubles quarterfinal showing by senior Karsten Smith and eighth grader George Tidmore.
Valwood rallied from an early deficit to overcome No. 1 seed Frederica Academy to win 3-2 and advance to the state semifinals, where the boys would fall in a thrilling match vs Augusta Prep by a 3-2 score.
In girls tennis, the Valiants lost both their top two singles players after finishing second in 3A last season, but they showed no ill effects, going 12-1 in the regular season. The Valiant girls are no stranger to success in the regular season as they have gone an unprecedented 36-1 over the past three years.
The girls team made quick work of Frederica Academy, winning 3-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they faced off with undefeated Augusta Prep and came out on top 3-1 to set up a rematch of last year’s state championship match against Westminster of Augusta.
The Valiants fought courageously but fell 3-2, losing in a 3rd set 10-point tiebreaker to decide the team champion.
“Valwood has a lot to be proud of in our young teams and how they represented our school today,” said head coach Brian Rasmussen. “We fought for every team point all day long and competed with class, determination, and hard work all season.
“This program is becoming a staple of success in 3A and I am so proud of the type of character we are building as a part of this incredible school and athletic program.”
Valwood sent more individual state qualifiers than any other school and was the only program to finish top 4 in the state for both boys and girls tennis.