There is talent in numbers at Heritage Academy.
In his third year as the school’s tennis coach, Billy Clark doesn’t recall a time when the program has had as many girls and boys to choose from when it comes time to put a lineup on the court. This season, Clark said the squad had 10 girls and nine boys to narrow down to seven for matches.
“It was a good problem to have,” Clark said.
Heritage Academy put that depth to good use Monday by winning the Mississippi Association of Independent School Class AAA, District 3 title at the Magnolia Tennis Club and the Mississippi University for Women courts.
The girls team scored nine points to beat Starkville Academy (3.5) and Leake Academy (one). The boys team had seven points, while Winston Academy had three, Starkville Academy had 2.5 and Leake Academy had one.
The individuals or teams that finished first or second secured spots in the North AAA tournament on Monday in Greenville.
Heritage Academy will try to build on its district title with a lineup that features only one senior — Lauren Pole and Jack Ellis — on the girls and boys teams. Clark said the Patriots have plenty of promising younger players ready to step in and make the most of their chances to play, too.
While it’s great to have depth, Clark said all of his players enjoy spending time on the court, whether during their physical education periods in school, during practice, or at matches. He said that love for the game has been infectious and has helped the program have a championship season.
“The key to tennis is you have to play a lot,” Clark said. “You have to play in the summer and the fall because you can’t come out here in February having not played and say, ‘I am ready to make the A team.’
“This has been a great year. We have a bunch of athletic boys and girls. They play a lot of tennis.”
In the finals, Heritage Academy’s Gigi Fields beat Starkville Academy’s Kacey Favor 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 at No. 1 singles. Heritage Academy’s Sarah Curtis defeated Starkville Academy’s Mary Winfield 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.
In girls doubles, Heritage Academy’s Haley Barker and Emily Howard beat Leake Academy’s Kristen Sprayberry and Sydney Ogletree 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1. At No. 2, Heritage Academy’s Stella Nichols and Grayson Jones defeated Starkville Academy’s Aubrey Armstrong and Sydney Passons 6-1, 6-1.
In boys singles, Starkville Academy’s Will Christiansen beat Winston Academy’s Braxton Bane 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1. At No. 2, Heritage Academy’s William Laws defeated Winston Academy’s Isaac Keen 7-5, 6-0.
In boys doubles, Heritage Academy’s No. 1 team of Jack Ellis and Carter Smith beat Winston Academy’s Fields Major and Blake Peterson 6-4, 6-1. At No. 2, Mason Cline and John H Fields defeated Leake Academy’s Jackson Adams and Jarrett Allen 6-2, 6-1.
In mixed doubles, Heritage Academy’s Pole and Tyner Swedenburg beat Starkville Academy’s Emory Stevens and Parker Guest 6-1, 6-1.
Pole said the increased numbers have helped build enthusiasm for the program. She said it feels like the program has grown in the time she has been playing.
Part of Pole’s growth has come in moving from singles to doubles. She said she has worked on her volleys in an effort to have success with Swedenburg in their first year as a team.
“We’re friends, too, so I think we get along good,” Pole said. “We don’t argue. If we miss a point, you just encourage them to get the next one.”
Pole said it isn’t that important to be friends with a doubles partner. She said she and Swedenburg have learned to work together and to play off the other’s strengths.
“He is definitely better at volleys and putting the ball away at the net,” Pole said. “My first serve is pretty good, and I think we’re both pretty consistent, so that helps.”
Ellis also has had success in doubles with Carter. He said the team’s winning ways have served as motivation for everyone. This is the first year he has teamed with Carter.
“We’re both really good net players,” Ellis said. “We both can put the ball away when we’re at the net, and we have really strong forehands. I think we have lots of power.”
Ellis said the district titles have whetted the teams’ desire to add additional hardware to their haul. He said it will be different this week because Heritage Academy hasn’t played many of the opponents, but he is confident the team will do well.
On April 21, Heritage Academy beat Washington School 5-4 to improve to 9-0. Fields and Curtis won in girls singles. Laws won at No. 2 boys singles. The teams of Nichols and Jones and Cline and Fields also won.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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