The Walton girls did it again!
Despite losing eight of the 10 girls that led the Raiders to the Class AAAAAA tennis championship a year ago, they once again found the recipe for success. On Saturday Walton defeated Etowah 3-1 at the Clayton County International Park Tennis Center, avenging three earlier defeats to the Eagles and winning its fourth straight state championship.
Walton has won 14 of the last 16 championships at the state’s highest level of competition.
“To come back and beat them and be strong in almost every line, I’m so proud of them,” said Walton coach Anthony Foti, who took over the girls program this season. “I’m very proud to keep up the tradition for sure.”
Walton swept the three singles matches to turn the tables on Etowah, which had beaten the Raiders in a regular-season match, in a tournament and in the Region 5-AAAAAA final.
Elizabeth Norman got a 6-3, 6-0 win over Mallory Gilmer at No. 1 singles, Grace Gaskins beat Ana Albertson 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, and Emily Gaskins beat Keegan Casteel 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Etowah won the No. 1 doubles match, with Hannah Hutchings and Nikki Gilner topping Maggie Connolly and Samantha Brenner 6-0, 6-0. The other doubles match was not completed.
“I’m so proud of them,” Foti said. “We had two returning players, the two twins who both won, no idea what we were going to get. I knew we were going to be solid, but they have gotten better and better and better. We really hit our stride in the playoffs and I’m so proud of how they played.
Go Lady Raiders!
Reprinted from AJC Sports blog, May 10, 2016.
