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The LaGrange Academy boys tennis team is the GIAA Class A state champion. The Warriors put together a remarkable season that culminated in a state championship victory over Westwood. 

This was no happy accident. The team came into this season with one goal in mind: win a state championship. 

“We came into the season with a lofty goal, and it seemed a little bit too lofty at times,” LaGrange Academy coach Kaleb Sosobee said. “We faced a lot of adversity this season, so what I was most proud of was the team’s toughness. The guys never lost sight of the goal.”

The Warriors cruised into the semifinals, where they collided with No. 1 seed Grace Christian. It was the most difficult match of the tournament for LaGrange Academy.

The Warriors toppled Westwood in the finals to win the state championship. LaGrange Academy got off to a rough start in the match as the boys battled some adversity, including getting word that the girls’ team lost 3-2 in the state championship.

“The girls had quite the tragic loss… so there was kind of a bittersweet undertone while the boys were playing,” Sosobee said. “We were down in four of the five lines in the boys’ final early, so I made my rounds to everybody and told them to dig deep, and they were able to turn it around.”

Kamat, the no. 1 singles player and the unimpeachable leader of the team, set the standard for the Warriors this season. The senior won an individual state championship and led the team to a team state championship after missing the entirety of his junior campaign with an injury.

“This means a lot to me because it was truly five years in the making for me,” he said. 

“You don’t get to have your picture up on the wall for an individual state championship, so the team one means a little bit more,” Kamat added, laughing. 

The team hit a few bumps early in the season, highlighted by No. 2 singles player Alex Jarvholm suffering a season-ending injury. The junior was sorely missed, and the Warriors had to do some reshuffling in their lineup early in the year.

“I actually started the season as singles and then moved to doubles,” Zach Tures said. “It’s a very similar game to doubles, so it wasn’t too bad. I’ve played doubles before and had a ton of different partners over the years.”

The support the Warriors got along the way from the likes of the teachers, fellow students and parents boosted the team all year. 

“Our athletic director, coach (Charles) Parker, our head of schools, Dr. (John) Mehaffey and our principal, Britt Gaylor, all came together and provided a super strong base for us,” Kamat said. “Ethan Black from LaGrange High was huge for me. He was my hitting partner throughout the season and during the summertime.”

“All the parents and the student section were so important for us this season,” junior Martin Zachary added. 

LaGrange Academy will be losing just two of its players, Kamat and Tures. The two seniors will be sorely missed, but the Warriors will have a strong lineup returning in 2026.

“We should be pretty strong again next year, though we may need another solid player or two to compete at this level again,” Sosobee said. “Either way, we won’t be slouches.”