Model boys, Rockmart, Coosa move on to 2nd round of state

The first round of the Class AA state tennis playoffs featured strong showings for a group of local teams.

The Region 7-AA champion Model boys blew by Lamar County 5-0. No. 1 singles player Kyle Hale and No. 2 player Parker Stone each won 6-0, 6-0, while No. 3 player Chase Geier allowed one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win.

Model kept things rolling in doubles, as the team of John Weaver and Stephen Boylan and the team of David Mountain and Sam Bryant both won 6-0, 6-0. The Blue Devils face either Berrien or Northeast Macon in the next round.

Meanwhile, the Region 7-AA champion Rockmart girls also won 5-0 against Lamar County in similar dominant fashion. No. 1 singles player Emma Evans and No. 3 player Taylor McVey won 6-0, 6-0, while No. 2 player Mart Ella Owens won 6-1, 6-0.

The Lady Jackets (17-1) rolled in doubles, with the team of Anna Smith and Alexis Glanton winning 6-1, 6-4, and the team of Rose Haney and Alexis Casey winning 6-3, 7-5. The team moves on to play either Dublin or Early County in the next round.

On the boys’ side, Rockmart (16-2) also won 5-0 taking down Temple, with No. 1 singles player Timothy Malone winning 6-2, 6-1. No. 2 player Koby Adams won 6-1, 6-0, while No. 3 player Jackson Norris won 6-0, 6-1. The Yellow Jackets’ doubles team of Austyn Shelton and Bennett Vest won 6-0, 6-0 and the other doubles game ended in forfeit. Rockmart will face either East Laurens or Thomasville in the next round.

The Coosa girls also won in a blowout, beating Callaway 5-0 beginning with No. 1 singles player Tori Overby winning 6-0, 6-1. No. 2 player Cheyenne Lambert won 6-2, 6-4, and No. 3 player Victoria Thompson won 7-5, 6-0.

Nothing changed for the doubles, with the team of Rajohnae Hanes and Keegan Justice winning 6-2, 6-3, and the team of Alexis Holmes and Sadie Hagen winning 6-1, 6-3. The Lady Eagles play either Fitzgerald or Bleckley County in the next round.

For the boys, Coosa dropped one match but still beat Callaway 4-1 on the road. After Coosa lost the first singles match, No. 2 singles player Joseph Smyth won 6-0, 6-1, and No. 3 player Zac Mitchell won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The doubles team did its work, with the team of Jay Tumlin and Bryce Ray winning 6-3, 6-4 and the team of Jaden Cave and Jordan Broome winning 6-1, 6-3. In the next round, the Eagles will either face Fitzgerald or Bleckley County.