Hartselle Tennis Takes the Court for the 2019 Season
The Tiger and Lady Tiger tennis teams come into the 2019 season with experience on their side. Both teams return five of the top six varsity players from the 2018 season. Many of the returning players are juniors who have been part of the varsity for three years now.
Hartselle’s will be playing in a section that includes Athens, Buckhorn, Columbia, Decatur, Hazel Green, Lee-Huntsville, Mae Jemison, and Muscle Shoals. The Tigers will be playing some of these teams for the first time and some others for the first time in a couple of years.
“I feel pretty confident in both teams’ abilities. I feel they both have an excellent chance to make the state tournament,” said Hartselle head coach Regina Hudson. “We have a great group of players who play very well together.”
Early Matches
Hartselle @ Scottsboro (Feb. 5)
Hartselle kicked of their season with a match on the road at Scottsboro. The Tigers swept all matches with the Wildcats for a 9-0 victory. The Lady Tigers defeated Scottsboro 8-1.
Boys – Winners
Singles: Austin Taylor (10-1), Seth McKee (10-1), Mark Cera (10-5), Nolan Light (10-0), Eli Terry (10-0), Logan Crouch (10-2)
Doubles: Taylor/McKee (10-1), Cera/Smith (10-0), Light/Terry (10-1)
Girls – Winners
Singles: Sydney Pham (10-5), McKenna Wright (8-5 (Ret) ), Macie Cagle (10-1), Emory Carnes (10-0), Alia Wright (10-0) Doubles: Pham/Hamlett (10-3), Cagle/Carnes (10-1), Wright/ Wright (10-1)
Hartselle @ Decatur (Feb. 6)
Hartselle took to the road again for a match with Decatur. The Tigers defeated the Red Raiders 6-3. The Lady Tigers were swept by the Lady Red Raiders 9-0.
Boys – Winners
Singles: Mark Cera (Forfeit), Triston Smith (8-1), Nolan Light (8-0), Eli Terry (8-0)
Doubles: Cera/Taylor (8-0), Light/Terry (Forfeit)
Cullman @ Hartselle (Feb. 14)
The teams got back on the court for the first time in over a week for a match again the Cullman Bearcats. The Tigers defeated Cullman 6-3. The Lady Bearcats handed the Lady Tigers their second match loss in a row 7-2.
Boys – Winners
Singles: Seth McKee (10-7), Mark Cera (10-8), Nolan Light (10-5), Eli Terry (10-2)
Doubles: Cera/Taylor (10-6), Light/Terry (10-4)
Girls – Winners
Singles: Emory Carnes (10-4), Alia Wright (10-5)
Columbia @ Hartselle (Feb. 25)
The Tigers hosted the Columbia Eagles in their first section match of the season on Feb. 25. This was the first time that they have been on the court for any activity in over a week due to rain. The Tigers swept Columbia 9-0 to gain their fourth victory of the season.
Boys – Winners
Singles: Austin Taylor (8-4), Seth McKee (8-0), Mark Cera (8-1), Triston Smith (8-0) Nolan Light (8-0), Eli Terry (8-0)
Doubles: Taylor/McKee (6-1, 6-2), Smith/Light (6-0, 6-0), Cera/Terry (6-0, 6-0)
Hazel Green @ Hartselle (Feb. 26)
Hartselle host the Hazel Green Trojans in a section match on Feb. 26. The Tigers continued their early season success by winning their fifth match in a row, 7-2 over the Trojans. The Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Trojans 8-1 to break their two match losing streak.
Boys – Winners
Singles: Austin Taylor (10-1), Triston Smith (10-1), Nolan Light (10-0), Eli Terry (10-0)
Doubles: Taylor/McKee (10-5), Smith/Light (10-3), Cera/Terry (10-0)
Girls – Winners
Singles: Kenzie Hamlett (10-6), McKenna Wright (10-5), Macie Cagle (10-0), Emory Carnes (10-0), Alia Wright (10-0) Doubles: Pham/Hamlett (10-7), Cagle/Carnes (10-6), Wright/ Wright (10-0)
Season Schedule
March 1-2 Hillcrest Tournament @ Tuscaloosa BOYS & GIRLS
March 5 Buckhorn @ Buckhorn BOYS & GIRLS
March 5 Albertville Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
March 7 Mae Jemison @ Mae Jemison BOYS & GIRLS
March 11 Austin @Point Mallard BOYS & GIRLS
March 14 Muscle Shoals Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
March 15 Columbia @ Columbia BOYS
March 26 Athens @ Athens BOYS & GIRLS
March 28 Decatur Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
March 29 Mae Jemison Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
April 1 Lee @ Lee BOYS & GIRLS
April 2 Muscle Shoals @ Muscle Shoals BOYS & GIRLS
April 8 Cullman Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
April 9 Athens Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
April 11 Decatur Heritage Hartselle BOYS & GIRLS
April 12 St John Paul II Hartselle GIRLS
April 15 Girls Section Tournament Hartselle GIRLS
April 16 Boys Section Tournament Hartselle BOYS
April 21-23 State Tournament Mobile BOYS & GIRLS