Photo courtesy of Briarwood Christian Athletics Twitter
Briarwood Tennis
The Briarwood girls tennis team won the school's first state title since 2013.
Briarwood Christian’s girls tennis team won the Class 6A tennis state title April 29 in Mobile, defeating Walker by an overall score of 58-50.
“Our focus this year has been to control the controllables,” Briarwood coach Jeremy Mears said. We don't emphasize outcome-based results like winning points, games, and matches. We are able to control our preparation, attitude and effort.”
While they don’t harp on the wins, the Lions got plenty of them. They finished with a pair of singles champions, in sisters Callie and Frannie Ware. Callie won in the No. 2 bracket, while Frannie took home the crown at No. 4.
Jud Tarence (No. 1) and Katelyn Bussey (No. 5) reached the finals in singles, and Kateleigh Calloway (No. 3) and Keeton Cross (No. 6) advanced to the semifinals. The doubles tandem of Tarence and Calloway reached the final. Callie Ware and Bussey were doubles quarterfinalists, and Grayson Emerson and Laura Herron reached the semis.
“Our girls battled through numerous injuries and challenges this year,” Mears said. “I am so proud of the way they competed each day. The way they embraced adversity and pulled for one another was amazing. This team is a special group of young ladies, the state championship was just icing on the cake.”
