The Gilmer High Lady Cats are set for the state tennis tournament.
The Cats entered last Tuesday’s Region 7-3A tournament as the No. 6 seed, but pulled a 3-1 upset over No. 3 seeded White County in the opening round to solidify their state spot.
GHS was then defeated by Dawson County and Lumpkin County and will enter the upcoming Class 3A state tournament as a No. 4 seed.
“The girls were so excited to win that first round match,” said head coach Donna Parks. “Going into the tournament as a sixth seed is always difficult, but they practiced really hard and prepared before the tournament and it paid off. They are looking forward to traveling to their opponents from Region 8 when we return from spring break.”
At region, most matches are stopped once a team has secured the win, and No. 1 single Ollie Burnett came out first with a victory of 6-3, 6-1. Top doubles Madison Bradshaw and Lucy Ray won their opening set 6-3, and claimed the win by a 7-5 margin in the second.
The Lady Cats cemented their spot in the state tournament when Chelsey Griggs and Bree Burnette teamed up for a 7-5, 5-3 victory on the No. 2 doubles court.
The Warriors were able to pick up a win against No. 2 Lady Cat Lyric Lowman, 6-1, 6-3.
The victory pitted GHS against Dawson County in the semifinals. The Tigers won a pair of singles matches against Burnett and Lyla Eagle without dropping a set. DCHS sent GHS to the consolation bracket with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph against Griggs and Burnette.
Lumpkin County’s 3-1 victory versus the Cats decided the region’s final two seeds for the state tournament.
Burnett came away with a lopsided victory, 6-0, 6-1. Griggs and Burnette lost their first set, 7-5, and fell 6-1 in the second. Lumpkin also got wins versus Engle (6-3, 6-2) and Lowman (6-0, 6-1).
For the No. 6 seeded Bobcats, their season ended with a 5-0 first round loss to No. 3 seeded Dawson County.
Gilmer’s Nathan Hall was able to find some success in his No. 3 singles match. A 7-5 first set loss was followed by a 6-1 defeat in set two. The No. 1 doubles team of Larz Fowler and Kolby Reece lost both sets, 6-2.
No. 2 doubles Alex Miltiades and Victor Bennett, as well as No. 1 single Eder Martinez fell, 6-0, 6-0. Rylan Freeman dropped his No. 2 singles match, 6-1, 6-0.
The Bobcats ended their season with a 3-7 record, and the Lady Cats are 5-7.
The Lady Cats’ first round opponent has yet to be determined.