Sydnie Sine
Contributor
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the Suwannee High School Bulldogs boys' and girls' tennis teams faced off against Perry High School.
Returning senior, Mattie Marsee, who had a successful weightlifting season, returned with a great start to her tennis season with a number one singles win of 8-0. Next in line was senior Nellie Lamb with a win at 8-6. For the doubles matches, the Lady Bulldogs had a nail biter in the first match, with Marsee and Lamb coming in close in a tie breaker, 5-7. In the second doubles match, returning senior Caroline Simpson and sophomore Madison Dear had a tough match, coming away with a score of 3-8. Simpson played her singles, another nail-biting match with a close-but-no-cigar score of 6-8. This was one of her best matches she's ever competed in, making it an exciting start to the season. For the number four slot, Dear also had some tough competition and ended with a score of 2-8. The team's newest member, Jennifer Hancock, also played an excellent singles match. While the score doesn’t show it (0-8), she played better than the team's ever seen, with great footwork and consistency doubled in her match. She just started tennis about three weeks ago and is progressing quickly; the Lady Bulldogs are very excited to have her. Hancock's background is in basketball, softball, football and band, which are all great contributions to her potential success as a tennis player.
For the Bulldog boys, returning seniors Loren Anderson, Gabe Brackin and David Esco each had a great start to the season, winning their singles matches 8-0, 8-1 and 8-1. In the first round of doubles, Anderson and Brackin won with a score of 8-4 and, in the second matchup, Esco and junior Jake Wooley won, 8-0. Esco was hitting ace after ace with confidence! After his shared success in doubles, Wooley also won his singles match, 8-0; he is on his way to a great season. Freshman Evan McMillan also won his singles match at 8-0, starting the season out on the right foot. Freshman Calay Anderson's singles match was a long and close one, but he pulled through, winning at 8-6.
Overall, the Bulldogs had a great time and were able to get to know each other on their ride to the match, as well as at their stop at Deal's Famous Oyster House on their way back to Suwannee. Both teams are excited for the remainder of the season.