Webster county was heavily represented last week at the Class I tennis state championships as Eupora carried three players to the state semifinals and East Webster two.
That led to a state title being brought home as East Webster’s Jenna Flake and Mason Brand won the Mixed Doubles championship. It was a matchup of the top two doubles teams in the state in Class I as EWHS had Brand and Flake going up against Sacred Heart.
The eventual team champions of Class I in Sacred Heart built a big lead and were within a point away from winning the match before things turned. After losing 6-2 in the first game, Brand and Flake fell behind 5-2 with the match on the line. That’s when they stormed back to win 7-5 and send it to a super tiebreaker where they would triumph in a 10-6 win.
“It was an unreal feeling, especially the way that it unfolded last year. They made it to the semifinals and came up short, but this year they had a bye in the first round and got back to it,” Brown said. “They played a tough No. 1 seed in Sacred Heart who won the team state championship.
“We kept fighting the whole time and everything kept turning around. The next thing that we know we’re going to a super tie breaker. I haven’t seen something like that happen against such a quality opponent. To be in the state championship in the final match vs. the number one seed it was unreal. It was so exciting.”
Three staples in the county and the state over the years also made a run to the state semifinals. Eupora’s Lillian Winter won the girls singles division championship earlier this year and John Thomas Frank and Woods Mitchell came in second in doubles in the division. All three made it to the state semifinals but came up just short.
It was quite a season for both teams and for the division as a whole. Three of the state champions in Class I came from the division that included EWHS, Eupora, French Camp Academy, Mississippi School of Math and Science and Philadelphia.
It was another great season for both of the teams and some great players will be moving on. However, it’s a group that has left a lasting legacy in Webster county for the younger players.
“They are super hard-working kids. In days that we’ve finished practice they’d stay late and keep working,” Brown said of his duo. “Jenna is going to be missed for her leadership. She’s very encouraging and is the first one there and the last one to leave. Mason is the same way.”
