DWS Lady Knights capture state title

The Deerfield Windsor Lady Knights knocked off region rival Valwood on Tuesday to capture the AAA girls tennis state championship at John Drew Smith Center in Macon.

In the team tournament, all of the matches are played at the same time, so the match was tight throughout. Valwood came up with the first win in number one doubles. Smith Shaw and Ellie Smith defeated the AAA state runner-ups Haley Halford and Jia Patel. The Knights answered with a win at No. 2 doubles where Jackie Houston and Lela Leveson defeated Marleigh Carson and Anna Alvarado to even up the score. The Lady Valients then took a 2-1 lead at the No. 3 singles position. Camillle Singletary defeated Elizabeth Leveson in a very close match to take a one game lead. With the number No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches on the court the Lady Knights had to win both of these matches to win the title. Both of the Lady Knights had won the first set in their matches, but both of the second sets were extremely close. Sophie Singleton No. 2 singles beat Ashley Lindsey to tie up the match up at 2-2. As tension is mounting it was evident that this state championship was in the hands of the No. 1 DWS singles player Lizzie Moorhead or her opponent Rebecca Moody. Both girls were fighting hard for this win that determined a State Championship. Lizzie Moorhead kept her composure and sealed the deal for the Lady Knights in her close win over Valwood School. Last season the team had a heart breaking loss to Westminister (Augusta) in the semi finals to end their season. With this memory lingering with them, ending a great season with a state championship was the Lady Knights’ goal from that point forward.

With her win at No. 2 singles, Sophie Singleton went the entire tennis season without losing a match.

The Lady Knights had gotten to the state finals with wins over Frederica Academy and the Heritage School.

The DWS Knights had a great team tournament. They won the first round by beating Frederica Academy. The three wins came from No. 2 Singles Ellis Holton, No. 3 Singles Charles Peeler and No. 1 Doubles team of Brooks Margeson and Thomas Peeler. This win advanced to the semi finals, where the Knights fell to the 3 year defending AAA State Champions of William and Reed out of Atlanta. The Knights ended their season Region Runner-ups and a final four finisher, a truly great season.

Meredith GruhlMeredith Gruhl