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Under normal circumstances, the GHSA 3A boys tennis state champion would have been crowned in Rome last Saturday. Mother nature had other plans and now the LaGrange High tennis program will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to host the state championship match this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. With modern GHSA state championships held on neutral sites for all sports (unless circumstances arise like this), this could truly be the only time LaGrange High gets to host a state championship for at least the foreseeable future.

“I wish we could have gotten to play in Rome, but this is a pretty nice consolation prize,” LaGrange coach Kenny Moore said. To be able to host it here is pretty special.”

The No. 1-seeded Grangers have been one of the favorites, if not THE favorite, to win the state championship all season. Calhoun will come into Saturday’s match with other plans, though. The Yellow Jackets have lost just one line in the playoffs (in a 3-1 win over Oconee County in the Final 4). This will be a true heavyweight clash on the courts.

“I told everybody that the Finals will be a different story,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a different feeling for the players than any match they have played in so far.”

LaGrange has lost just one home match this season — a 4-1 loss to St. Pius X. In fact, the Grangers have lost just two matches total this season — a shorthanded 5-4 loss to Opelika alongside the loss to St. Pius X. 

Tuesday’s Final 4 match between LaGrange and Cherokee Bluff came down to the wire in front of a packed house at McCluskey Tennis Center. Expect an even bigger crowd on Saturday as the Granger faithful cheer on their team.

“To look out there and see so many people here to cheer us on is special,” doubles player Noah Black said after the Final 4 earlier this week. “Our classmates, teachers, and people from the community have all come out to cheer us on. I haven’t experienced this in my four years playing here.”

The LaGrange High tennis program was founded in 1938. Since then, there have been multiple runner-up finishes, a laundry list of Final 4 appearances, and a ton of talented tennis players. Saturday could be the day the team makes history and claims the first state title for the tennis program.

“These kids all love each other and play for each other rather than just themselves,” Moore said. “This team represents everything about being a Granger.”