White County Tennis Finishes Region 3A Runner-Up

White County’s boys and girls tennis teams closed out the Region 3A team tournament this week with runner-up finishes, falling to Signal Mountain in the championship matches. The Eagles claimed the titles with a 5-0 win over the Warriors and a 4-0 victory over the Warriorettes, but the final scores only told part of the story.

Both Sparta squads competed with consistency and composure throughout the night, forcing long rallies and battling through tightly contested points. While Signal Mountain ultimately secured the wins, White County’s effort and discipline were evident across the courts.

Two of the most competitive matches came at the No. 2 singles positions. For the Warriorettes, Tegan Rittenberry turned in a strong defensive performance against an aggressive opponent, extending points and forcing difficult returns while remaining steady on serve. On the boys side, Ethan Wiles delivered one of the night’s most notable efforts. He was the only Warrior to take a set, building an early advantage behind a mix of well-placed shots and pressure on second serves before the match shifted to a third-set tiebreak.

Several close calls throughout the evening drew attention from both sidelines, prompting coaches to assist with line calls during portions of the matches. Despite the circumstances, White County maintained its composure. Head coach Topher Wiles noted his team’s response afterward, emphasizing their focus on handling adversity the right way and continuing to compete with sportsmanship.

Region 3A Championship Results

Boys — Signal Mountain 5, White County 0
Singles #1: Signal Mountain def. John Durfee 6-0, 6-1
Singles #2: Signal Mountain def. Ethan Wiles 2-6, 6-7(7), 7-10
Singles #3: Signal Mountain def. Solomon Hawkins 6-0, 6-1
Singles #4: Signal Mountain def. Ben Brogden 6-4, 6-0
Singles #5: Signal Mountain def. Rhoane Whorton 6-1, 6-3
Doubles #1: Durfee/Wiles vs. Signal Mountain (DNF)
Doubles #2: Brogden/Hawkins vs. Signal Mountain (DNF)

Girls — Signal Mountain 4, White County 0
Singles #1: Signal Mountain def. Lorelei Bouldin 6-1, 6-1
Singles #2: Signal Mountain def. Tegan Rittenberry 6-2, 6-3
Singles #3: Signal Mountain def. Sadie Benningfield 6-0, 6-3
Singles #4: Signal Mountain def. Olivia Flaminio 6-2, 6-0
Singles #5: Katelyn Howard vs. Signal Mountain (DNF)
Doubles #1: Bouldin/Benningfield vs. Signal Mountain (DNF)
Doubles #2: Rittenberry/Flaminio vs. Signal Mountain (DNF)

With the team portion of the postseason complete, White County now turns its attention to individual play. The Warriors and Warriorettes will compete in the Region 3 Individual Tournament on Monday, May 4.

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