By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

HOGANSVILLE – A successful season came to a close for the Callaway High tennis teams on Monday.

Facing Coosa in the first round of the Class AA state tournament, both Callaway teams fell short.

The Cavaliers got a win at number one singles from Jae Ryu, but the Eagles won the remaining matches.

The Lady Cavaliers were competitive in all of the matches, but they were unable to get a win, with the Lady Eagles taking the 5-0 victory.

Both Callaway teams finished second in Region 5-AA to earn the right to host a first-round match.

“They made a lot of improvement,” Callaway coach Britney Matheny said. “I think at least half of our boys, and girls, this was their first year playing.”

Matheny said some of the players began working during the fall to get a haed start.

“Even on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall, a lot of them came out that didn’t play other sports,” Matheny said. “It was a free practice. A lot of new ones came in, so they could get familiar with the different rules, and things like that. I feel like they did pretty well considering this was their very first year.”

One player who has ample experience on the court is Ryu, and he got a straight-sets win at number one singles.

“He gives his own private lessons, so he’s been really helpful,” Matheny said.

At number three singles, Jon Bak forced his match to go the full three sets before falling short, and Preston Brown lost at number two singles.

Jibrell Jackson and Jared Nation were Callaway’s number one doubles team, and Matthew Son and Henry Seonwoo were the number two doubles team.

For the Callaway girls’ team, Dori Cook competed at number one singles, Brooke Townsend was the number two singles player, and Alice Lin held down the number three singles spot.

Destiny Johnson and Sydney Ramirez were the number one doubles team, and Madelyn Sikes and Callie Shelton played number two doubles.