On Wednesday, April 11, the MSMS tennis team hit the courts for the district tournament to decide what two teams from each individual and team event will advance to the next level of competition. These include: boys doubles, girls doubles, boys singles, girls singles and mixed doubles.

The opponents were from Bruce, East Webster, Tupelo Christian Preparatory School and Okolona. Each of the players played at least one match and soon received the news that three teams qualified for state. The teams consisted of boys doubles squad Daniel Leetran and Brent Styles, girls doubles squad Erin Owens and Sarrah Der-Ballout and mixed doubles Erin Davis and David Thaggard.

Senior David Thaggard serves as the Tennis Team Captain. Thaggard commented on the team’s tournament performance.

“Overall, I was satisfied with our performance at the tournament, but I would have loved to see at least one more team or individual advance,” David Thaggard stated.

“I personally didn’t think I played as well, but Erin Owens and Sarrah Der-Ballout had a really long three-hour match. They definitely earned their spot at state,” junior player Erin Davis said.

“It was definitely a challenge, but we prevailed through the pressure after reassessing our plan of attack towards our opponent’s strategies. Another challenge was playing through a knee injury sustained during the second match of three, but I will do what it takes to win,” another senior player Daniel Leetran explained.

Along with Kailah Ware, Joshua Seid, Advaith Sunil, Kendall Wells and Barrie Wright, the tennis team placed 2nd in their district. The first round of playoff will take place April 17 against St. Joseph High. The teams will be competing May 7-9 in Oxford, MS under Coach Judy Coleman.