In year one inside Class 3A, the East Webster Wolverines are already making their mark on the tennis courts.
Last year’s Class 2A North State champions and state title runners up, the Wolverines started Class 3A, Region 2 tournament action last week. It was total domination for the Wolverines against Aberdeen, Amanda Elzy, Nettleton and Winona as EWHS won every court and even had to play each other in two championship matches.
“They all work so hard and all of them deserve it and it makes it even more special that eight of the 12 are seniors and pretty much my whole coaching career they’ve been here with me,” coach Robbie Brown said of his team. “To watch them grow as tennis players and young men and women, it’s been really cool. It’s been kind of sweet for all of it to happen.”
Every player on the team qualified to play in the state championships with five different district championship wins for the team. Kayleigh Ann Griffin won the girls single championship, Mason Brand was boys singles champ, Cooper Stidham and Jalyn Brock took the mixed doubles championship, Levi Elkins and Barrett Gregg won boys doubles and Lilli Burton and Harley Kate Plunkett were girls double champions.
The talent and depth showed on the team as Bradley Graves and Nate Gordon played for the district championship against teammates Elkins and Gregg and Amberly Turner and Sydney Vaughn went toe-to-toe with Plunkett and Burton.
With the victories, every player will be qualified to compete in the individual championships in Oxford on April 23-24. Last season, Stidham and Brock brought home a state championship to Cumberland in mixed doubles and the two will have a chance to do it again.
The playoffs began on Thursday with EWHS taking on Alcorn Central in the first round at home. A victory will have them matched up next Tuesday with Mooreville or Winona. Brown hasn’t had to give his veteran team much motivation because they know what’s at stake.
“I just tell them all the time to play hard, give it all you’ve got and leave nothing out there. I know that we’re going to be competitive in the playoffs,” Brown said. “Somebody is going to have to step up and win a match. Sometimes there will be a court or two that will be easier, but all courts are going to be solid in the playoffs.”
