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Sweet 16 Preview: TFS Tennis

Both the Indians and Lady Indians secured easy 3-0 first round victories in the GHSA State Tournament last week at home. Now, both teams are into the Sweet 16 to be played on Monday, April 24. The Lady Indians will put their undefeated record on the line against Galloway, while the Indians will do the same against Whitefield Academy.

This season, the Lady Indians have gone 15-0 (school record for wins), winning the Region Championship for the first time since 2000. Singles players Ariel Kelsick (15-0) and Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph (14-0) have been phenomenal, as has Ava Carnes (8-1). The win total for Kelsick and Daniel-Joseph have topped the previous school record for a single-season, set by both Evette Corwin and Gigi Welch in 2021.

The doubles combo of Katarina Foskey and Azaria Junaid (8-0) have yet to be beaten, and Cassidy Hayes and Landry Carnes (6-2) are formidable and complete the best lineup in school history. Hayes stands at 26 all-time wins (singles or doubles), which ranks second in school history behind Natalie Carneal's ('05) 33 combined wins. The Lady Indians will square off with Galloway, a 3-seed from 6-A DI, who defeated Social Circle 3-0 in the opening round.

The Indians are also 15-0, winning their first Region Championship since 1977, when TFS Legend Chuck Nunn brought the school a third straight title. The 15 wins is a boys program record, and the Sweet 16 is the second in a row and third overall. Just like the girls 1-2 punch, the boys have been led by undefeated singles players Tanner Davis (15-0) and TJ Cox (15-0). The single-season wins record is currently a 3-way tie between Davis, Cox, and Javier de Claire (2013). William Xu has 4 singles wins this season as well.

At 1-doubles, Zach Carringer and Jake Owensby have been flawless at 10-0. Carringer has 13 total wins (singles plus doubles) this season, while Owensby has 14. The 10 wins for the combo matches their total last season, and is one shy of the doubles combo single-season record of 11 by Jack Zhang and Marvin Thiennukul (2017). Justin Graham and Aiden VanOrman also have 6 doubles wins in 2023. TFS will take on 3-seeded Whitefield Academy, who won 3-0 over Social Circle in their first round matchup.

Both teams will be seeking their first-ever trip to the Elite 8.

MATCHUP: Tallulah Falls Lady Indians vs Galloway | Tallulah Falls Indians vs Whitefield Academy
WHEN: Monday, April 24 | 1 PM for girls; 4 PM for boys
WHERE: Tallulah Falls Tennis Courts
TICKETS: FREE