The Walton girls did it again.
Despite losing eight of the 10 girls that led the Raiders to the Class AAAAAA tennis championship a year ago, they once again found the recipe for success. On Saturday Walton defeated Etowah 3-1 at the Clayton County International Park Tennis Center, avenging three earlier defeats to the Eagles and winning its fourth straight state championship.
Walton has won 14 of the last 16 championships at the state’s highest level of competition.
“To come back and beat them and be strong in almost every line, I’m so proud of them,” said Walton coach Anthony Foti, who took over the girls program this season. “I’m very proud to keep up the tradition for sure,.”
Walton swept the three singles matches to turn the tables on Etowah, which had beaten the Raiders in a regular-season match, in a tournament and in the Region 5-AAAAAA final.
Elizabeth Norman got a 6-3, 6-0 win over Mallory Gilmer at No. 1 singles, Grace Gaskins beat Ana Albertson 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, and Emily Gaskins beat Keegan Casteel 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Etowah won the No. 1 doubles match, with Hannah Hutchings and Nikki Gilner topping Maggie Connolly and Samantha Brenner 6-0, 6-0. The other doubles match was not completed.
“I’m so proud of them,” Foti said. “We had two returning players, the two twins who both won, no idea what we were going to get. I knew we were going to be solid, but they have gotten better and better and better. We really hit our stride in the playoffs and I’m so proud of how they played.”
In the other championship matches:
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Class AAAAAA boys: Northview spotted Johns Creek a point, but roared back for a 3-2 win.
Class AAAAA boys: Lakeside Evans successfully repeated as state champions with a 3-1 win over Starr’s Mill.
Class AAAAA girls: Columbus swept Kell 3-0 to win the first girls tennis championship in school history.
Class AAAA boys: Marist successfully defended its title with a 4-0 victory over Carrollton.
Class AAAA girls: North Oconee stunned Marist 3-1 and won the first girls tennis championship in school history.
Class AAA boys: Westminster easily got past Oconee County 3-0 to defend its championship.
Class AAA girls: Westminster’s Cyan D’Anjou nearly had to retire with an ankle injury in the third game, but came back to win at No. 3 singles and help the Wildcats beat Savannah Arts 3-2.
Class AA boys: Lovett outlasted Pace Academy 3-2 in a battle between two Region 6 rivals.
Class AA girls: Wesleyan made it back-to-back with a 3-2 win over Pace Academy after losing to the Knights twice during the regular season.
Class A Private boys: Paideia, which entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed from Region 3, beat defending state champion Athens Academy 3-1 and won its first tennis championship.
Class A Private girls: Brookstone swept Stratford Academy 3-0 and won its first girls title since 2009.
Class A Public boys: Telfair County won its first tennis championship, beating Irwin County 3-2.
Class A Public girls: Irwin County won its third straight state championship, beating Taylor County 3-1.
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