From favorite to champ, Bleckley County girls defend GHSA state tennis title

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

            The bad weather – the kind that delays a championship event – was coming, but Bleckley County’s girls tennis team did its part with the schedule at the GHSA tennis state championship round at the Rome Tennis Center.

            The Royals needed barely an hour and a half to dispose of Berrien 3-0 to win their third straight Class AA state title.

            A mid-morning weather delay became a full-fledge cancellation of the rest of the schedule a little after noon.

            That sent Class A Private boys finalists Stratford and Paideia back home to Macon and east Atlanta. As per the spring sports postseason universal coin toss, Paideia will host Stratford on Tuesday at the DeKalb Tennis Center, first serve at 4 p.m.

            The Royals will be a few days into their latest reign as champs when that happens, having finished off a season as a major favorite with the title.

            Such accomplishments come with relief and joy.

            “It’s a little bit of both,” he said while the team enjoyed a post-win meal at Provino’s in Rome. “When you feel like ‘We should win the state title,’ it’s a lot of relief versus joy.”

            For the coaches and adults. The players?

            “I don’t think the kids feel that,” he said. “I think they just play and don’t worry about it.”

            Bleckley County became the first team to win three straight Class AA girls titles since Blessed Trinity’s four-title run from 2009-12.

            A year ago, the Royals topped the Rebels 3-2 for the title.

            “To me, I thought Berrien (20-4)was better than us last year,” said Sanders, in his 22nd year at Bleckley County. “That (win) was a little more joyous to me.”

            The Royals (18-4) lost all of four games in the three sets needed to win the championship. Caroline Thrower won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and Molly Sims 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. The No. 1 doubles team of Emily Sanders and Bailey Odom won 6-0, 6-1.

            Sanders said it sure felt a lot harder than what the scores indicate.

            “I hadn’t really thought about the scores,” he said. “It was not indicative of the play. All the games were going deuce-AD, deuce-AD on all the matches.”

            Two key players this season who helped boost the Royals were still playing when the match ended, senior Landa Dominy and freshman Fatima El-Jeaid, a young doubles team – Dominy was on the team for years but hadn’t played much until this season – that won its first set and was leading in the second one.

            “I essentially had two rookies playing out there,” Sanders said. “It was a big deal for  them to win that set because I think (Berrien) was really counting on winning that one.”

            One of the other championship teams helped keep the Royals sharp this season.

            “We play Stratford and FPD twice a year,” Sanders said. “And I’m grateful to Jaime (Kaplan) and Derek (Lashley) letting us play them. I love playing them. It definitely helps.”

            The Royals had five regulars back from last year, and Sanders has four returning for 2020 when they’ll don the target in Class AA yet again.

            “I knew we were the team to beat from day one,” Sanders said. “I don’t really relish being in that role, to be honest with you. I’d rather kind of be an underdog.

            “But you still have to go out there and play and compete.  I’m telling you, Berrien, I know the type of tennis they play. They make you play harder.

            “And we did it. I’m proud of ‘em.”