Elizabeth Connell practices Monday afternoon. | Clif Knight

Both Hartselle tennis teams make state

Hartselle High School’s boys and girls tennis teams will be competing for a state title in Montgomery Thursday (today) for the first time in school history.

“We’ve had one team or the other in the state playoffs before but never both at the same time,” said head coach Regina Hudson. “I’m very proud of both teams. They’ve done well this year.”

Hartselle will be representing the Northwest Region as runner-up state qualifiers, having knocked out four other teams and finishing second behind Muscle Shoals.

Chris Schaffer, a junior on the boy’s team, won first place as a single player in the sectional and will be matched against a sectional runner-up in the opening round of the state matches.

Hartselle’s team will compete for singles, doubles and team championships.

“We’ve had some players slowed with sprains lately,” Hudson said, “but they’re recovering and we should be in pretty good health for the matches this week.”

Girl’s team members are Becca Lathem, Cassie Preston, Elizabeth Connell, Ivana Ellis, Katelyn Bryne, Maela Lanier, Nicholle Smith and Shelley Scarborough.

Competing for the boys team will be Alex Pettey, Brandon McNutt, Carson Blankenship, Forrest Anders, Grant Shelton, Jack Slate, Josh Rhodes, Kyle St. Amand, Landin Henderson, Noah Holladay, Patrick Connell, Chris Schaffer and Thomas Flieschman.

Hartselle High School’s girls tennis team members, from left, are Nicholle Smith, Shelley Scarborough, Maela Lanier, Ivana Ellis, Becca Lathem and Elizabeth Connell. | Clif Knight

Hartselle High School’s boys tennis team members, from left, are Kyle St. Amand, Brandon McNutt, Thomas Fleischman, Chris Schaffer, Patrick Connell and Landin Henderson. | Clif Knight