By: Maggie Ragland, Bulldog Barker
The Bulldog Tennis teams leapt into action this past week, playing their first three matches of the season. The teams went up against Christian Heritage on February 22, Pepperell on February 24, and Adairsville on February 25. The boys started the season off strong, defeating all three opposing teams, while the girls fell to two out of three of their opponents after tough battles.
The Dogs traveled to Dalton Golf and Country Club to face off against the Christian Heritage Lions last Tuesday, with the boys taking home a sweeping 5-0 win and the girls falling to the Lions 4-1. First seed James Willingham won his match 6-0, 6-2; second seed Tanish Patel had a 6-2, 6-3 win; and third seed Jace Brown won 7-5, 6-2. As for the doubles’ teams, Cole Cavin and Issaic Stewart won their match in a 6-4 win in the first set, a 3-6 loss in the second set and a 10-4 tiebreaker win with second doubles Josh Stephens and Matthew Woods winning 6-0, 6-0. The girls came up short in their matches with first seed Maggie Ragland losing 0-6, 0-6; third seed Emmaleigh Gentry scoring 1-6, 1-6; first doubles Libby Lathem and Vanessa Hernandez losing 0-6, 0-6; and second doubles Madilyn Cordle and Ansley Abernathy falling to their opponents 0-6, 4-6. Taking home a personal win was second seed Blythe Crabbe after a 3-6 loss in the first set, a 6-4 win in the second set, and a 10-8 tiebreaker score in the end.
After a day of practice in between, the Bulldogs hosted their first match against the Pepperell Dragons. The boys had their second win, scoring 4-1, with the girls coming up short at the end with a 1-4 score. First seed James Willingham won 6-1, 6-1 and third seed Gavin Gillespie won by forfeit after the Dragons were unable to bring a 7th player. As for the doubles teams, Cole Cavin and Issaic Stewart won 6-0, 6-0, with second doubles Tanish Patel and Carter Loughridge scoring 6-3, 6-2. Second seed Jack Weaver lost in a long battle losing 4-6 in the first set, winning a 7-4 tiebreaker in the second set, and unfortunately coming up short 9-11 in a final tiebreaker. On the girls team, first seed Maggie Ragland lost a tough match, falling in a 6-8 tiebreaker in the first set, winning 6-4 in the second set and ultimately losing 5-10 in the final tiebreaker. Second seed Blythe Crabbe lost her match in a 5-7 tiebreaker in the first set and 3-6 in the second set. Third seed Emmaleigh Gentry lost 5-7, 4-6 against her opponent and first doubles Libby and Briana Lathem fell 2-6, 3-6. Second doubles Madilyn Cordle and Jalyn Smith defeated their opponents 6-4, 6-4.
On Friday the teams faced the Adairsville Tigers at home, with both Bulldog teams taking home a win, putting the boys at an undefeated 3-0 record and giving the girls their first win with a 1-2 record. The boys defeated the Tigers 4-1 with first seed James Willingham winning 6-1, 6-0; second seed Jack Weaver winning 6-3, 7-5; first doubles Cole Cavin and Issaic Stewart taking a 6-1, 6-1 win; and second doubles Tanish Patel and Josh Stephens winning 6-1, 6-0. Third seed Gavin Gillespie unfortunately fell to his opponent 3-6, 1-6. The girls took a 3-2 win over the Tigers, with first seed Maggie Ragland winning 6-3 in the first set, losing 3-6 in the second set, and winning 10-6 in a tiebreaker. Second seed Blythe Crabbe won her match 6-4, 6-1 and second doubles Libby and Briana Lathem won 6-2, 6-2. Third seed Ansley Abernathy lost 2-6, 3-6 and first doubles Emmaleigh Gentry and Madilyn Cordle lost 2-6, 1-6.
The Dogs went on to defeat Coosa on February 28, Gordon Lee on March 1, and defeated Chattooga.
Featured image is senior, Blythe Crabbe, she played 1st singles against Chattooga.
