LaFayette standouts named county Players of the Year.

Madison Denny (Sr.), LaFayette

In 2015, then-sophomore Madison Denny went from being a junior varsity tennis player to being the No. 2 varsity singles player for the Lady Ramblers and responded with a solid 8-4 season, earning Walker County Player of the Year honors in the process.

Last year, with her game and reputation established, Denny turned in a sparkling 16-2 mark as the team’s No. 2 player, winning 15 of her 16 matches in straight sets and helping the Lady Ramblers to the region championship finals.

But a new challenge awaited in 2017 as the senior would step into the spotlight as LaFayette’s No. 1 singles player - and she didn’t disappoint.

Denny stepped up her game to the tune of a 12-3 record, and for the third straight year, she is closing things out with another Walker County Player of the Year award.

“It’s just a great accomplishment to win it a third time,” she explained.

Denny concluded her prep playing career with a 41-11 career record, but said she definitely felt a target on her back as the team’s new No. 1 singles player.

“It was a lot more challenging,” she said. “Last year, I was playing more at the same pace of (my opponents). This year, everyone’s shots were really strong, but my shots got stronger too. I kept the same strategy - just hit the ball back and forth and make (my opponents) play it.”

Denny’s play propelled the Lady Ramblers to the Region 6-AAAA title match once again and earned the Orange-and-Black a seventh state tournament berth in the last eight years. LaFayette’s girls have now played in the state tournament 11 times in the past 14 seasons.

LaFayette head coach Clint Harrison said Denny was a “workaholic” on the court from the first day of tryouts as a freshman.

“Madison became an extremely patient player,” Harrison explained. “She was methodical during a match, just waiting for an opportunity to take the point. She never looked like she was out of it, even if she lost the first set. She would find a way to beat players that were more experienced and polished than her because she’s just a fighter.”

Denny will now trade in her tennis uniform for a set of scrubs in the fall as she will attend the University of West Georgia in Carrollton to study nursing.

“I’ll miss my teammates and coaches,” she added. “It’s just been so fun to be out here and playing with everyone.”