Briarwood has strong showing in 6A tennis championships

Briarwood Christian moved up to Class 6A this season, but that didn’t deter the Lions’ tennis program in the least.

The Briarwood girls, paced by state championship performances by Jud Tarance, Kateleigh Calloway, Callie Ware and Katelyn Bussey, posted a strong second-place finish. The boys team, led by a singles win by Thomas Collier, finished a solid fourth, just five points behind state champion Walker.

The combined total of five individual state champions was more than any other school.

“I am extremely proud of the way both of our teams competed this year,” said coach Jeremy Mears. “I have been blessed to lead this incredible group of young people. Although we moved up to 6A, we were able to continue the level of excellence that we have striven for in our program for the past decade.

     “Our senior leadership was tremendous. They have certainly left a positive footprint upon our tennis program. Ashley Ochsenhirt, Lukas Castellanos and David Salchert will be missed greatly.”

Ochsenhirt, a two-time Class 5A champion at No. 1 singles, is headed to Mississippi College to continue her tennis career. She made it to the semifinals of the No. 1 singles this year.

In the state tournament at Mobile, Walker’s girls edged Briarwood 71-60. Tarance, a junior, won her state championship at No. 2 singles. She beat Decatur’s Anna-Quinn Weaver 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3).

Calloway, a sophomore, won at No. 4, beating Walker’s Abby Hayes 7-6, 6-3. 

Ware, an eighth-grader, won at No. 6 by knocking off Decatur’s Beverly Fite 7-6, 6-1.

Calloway teamed with freshman Bussey — daughter of Bill “Bubba” Bussey — for a doubles win at No. 3. They beat Walker’s Holley Spivey and Olivia Hayes 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Also, Ochsenhirt and Tarance were runners-up at No. 1 doubles.

In the boys tournament, Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa won the state team title by edging Walker 41-39. Dothan was third at 38 points with Briarwood right behind at 36 points in an extremely competitive field. The Lions won the sportsmanship award.

Collier, a junior, won at No. 2. Castellanos and Bennett Davis were runners-up in the No. 2 doubles.

It capped a great season overall for the Lions’ program.

Among the highlights were regular-season wins over powerhouse Walker by both the boys and girls teams; a girls win over Vestavia, the first time ever; both boys and girls winning the sectional tournament; and the girls winning the Hillcrest tournament and the Shelby County tournament.