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For the first time in over two decades, the LaGrange boys tennis team will play for a state championship. The ever elusive state title is within the Grangers’ grasp after they beat Cherokee Bluff 3-2 in an absolute thriller at McCluskey Tennis Center.

“This is so special,” LaGrange head tennis coach Kenny Moore said, with a twinkle in his eyes. “This team is full of great tennis players, but even more important than that, they are a family. You can tell that they love playing with each other.” 

It was not exactly the Final 4 the Grangers were looking for, despite the victory. The GHSA Final 4 and state championship matches were originally scheduled to be held in Rome last Saturday. Inclement weather rolled in, and with less than 24 hours’ notice, the matches were postponed.

The Grangers, like all the teams that were set to play in Rome, had to reset and get ready for a match on Tuesday.

“We were about to get on the buses and head up to Rome on Friday when we got our hearts broken,” Moore said. “I have them Friday off from practice to kind of reset, and then we got right back to work on Monday for practice.”

Tuesday’s match came down to the final four players on the court. Noah Black and Jaehan Seol were able to edge out a two-set victory to push the Grangers over the top and into the championship match.

“That was rough, we really didn’t play well at all,” an exhausted and excited Black said after the match. “It was a really tough match, but we were able to dig in and get the win.”

“We knew we weren’t playing well, so we started to focus on just keeping the ball in play rather than chasing points,” Seol added.

While Black and Soel went into an absolute war with their opponents, Alex Lee cruised to victory. The freshman is one of the top No. 3 singles players in the state and continues to show poise and confidence on the courts despite his youth.

“We believe he’s as good as any No. 3 singles player in the state,” Moore said. “He’s well beyond his years on the tennis court.”

Not only will the Grangers play for a state championship, but they will host it. The state championship match will be hosted at McCluskey Tennis Center on either Friday or Monday. 

“Obviously we wanted to play in Rome, but to be able to play at home in front of these fans is going to be special,” Black said. 

The boys’ tennis team at LaGrange High has finished as runner-up once, and the girls have finished runner-up twice, all under Moore’s leadership. 

This year’s boys’ team is special and could be poised to finally break through and win a state championship.

No. 1 singles player Ethan Black and no. 2 singles player Brayden Lamb fell in their matches. The two Grangers will be essential in the state championship match as the depth of the team is what sets them apart from their peers, as well as previous LaGrange teams.

“We have five really solid players and partnerships in the starting lineup,” Moore said. “One match we might win with our top singles players leading the way, and sometimes it’s our doubles players.”

On Tuesday, the doubles teams came through in a big way. Brody Douhne and Sehun Seol dominated the no. 2 doubles spot.

The Grangers will need an entire team effort when they host either Oconee County or Calhoun in the state championship match. 

Boys Individual Results:

No. 1 Singles: James Rivenbark (CB) defeated Ethan Black (LG) 6 – 0, 6 – 1

No. 2 Singles: Boston Murphy (CB) defeated Brayden Lamb (LG) 6 – 2, 6 – 3

No. 3 Singles: Alex Lee (LG) defeated Baylor Oleksinski (CB) 6 – 1, 6 – 1

No. 1 Doubles: Noah Black and Jaehan Seol (LG) defeated Jett Hewette and Neo Dang (CB)

7 – 5, 6 – 4

No. 2 Doubles: Sehun Seol and Brody Douhne (LG) defeated Nick Bellew and Brady

Woodward (CB) 6 – 2, 6 – 2