The 11th annual DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships presented by Icy Hot will mark the event’s fourth year in Chattanooga. Our 2018 edition of the tournament will feature the largest field in tournament history with 80 teams from 14 states participating in the event. This year will mark the third straight year that both the boys and girls events will be played on the same weekend. A major format change is taking place this year as all tournament divisions will consist of 8 teams or less with a total of 11 divisions. Our 2018 participants will include 17 defending team state champions and 19 defending state finalists. There are 22 seniors that have already committed to play collegiate tennis competing in the event.
The Girls A Division features the strongest girls field in tournament history. Five defending state champions will headline the field that includes two former Girls A Division Champions. The top seed, Vandegrift, is making their first appearance in the tournament coming off a Texas Class 6A semifinal appearance and a No. 3 ranking the Lone Star State’s largest division. The Vipers are led by 4-star juniors Gabby Cusano and Charli Delmonico and 5-star freshman Anisha Apte, who each rank among the top 10 ranked girls in this year’s event. The second seed is defending Georgia Class 6A State Champion Cambridge. The Bears, who return their entire lineup from last year’s state championship team, are led by senior Hanna Giddings, a UNC-Greensboro signee. Tournament host Baylor, the defending Tennessee Division II Class AA State Champions, will be seeking their fifth Girls A Division title. The Red Raiders led by senior Presley Thomas, a University of Alabama-Huntsville signee, have appeared in the Girls A Division Championship in 6 of the last 7 years. Defending Girls A Division Champion Walton is seeking their third Girls A Division title in four years. The Raiders are coming off a Georgia Class 7A State Championship and are led by 4-star sophomore Samantha Buyckx. North Oconee and Saint Andrew’s both enter the event after capturing state championships last year. Top players will include the 67th ranked freshman in the country Carrie Beckman (Sacred Heart), 4-star freshman Ellie Eades (Sacred Heart), 4-star sophomore Juliana Mascagni (Milton), 4-star freshman Sara Snyder (Saint Andrew’s) and Georgia Southern signee Hannah Daniel (North Oconee).
The Girls A Division features the strongest girls field in tournament history. Five defending state champions will headline the field that includes two former Girls A Division Champions. The top seed, Vandegrift, is making their first appearance in the tournament coming off a Texas Class 6A semifinal appearance and a No. 3 ranking the Lone Star State’s largest division. The Vipers are led by 4-star juniors Gabby Cusano and Charli Delmonico and 5-star freshman Anisha Apte, who each rank among the top 10 ranked girls in this year’s event. The second seed is defending Georgia Class 6A State Champion Cambridge. The Bears, who return their entire lineup from last year’s state championship team, are led by senior Hanna Giddings, a UNC-Greensboro signee. Tournament host Baylor, the defending Tennessee Division II Class AA State Champions, will be seeking their fifth Girls A Division title. The Red Raiders led by senior Presley Thomas, a University of Alabama-Huntsville signee, have appeared in the Girls A Division Championship in 6 of the last 7 years. Defending Girls A Division Champion Walton is seeking their third Girls A Division title in four years. The Raiders are coming off a Georgia Class 7A State Championship and are led by 4-star sophomore Samantha Buyckx. North Oconee and Saint Andrew’s both enter the event after capturing state championships last year. Top players will include the 67th ranked freshman in the country Carrie Beckman (Sacred Heart), 4-star freshman Ellie Eades (Sacred Heart), 4-star sophomore Juliana Mascagni (Milton), 4-star freshman Sara Snyder (Saint Andrew’s) and Georgia Southern signee Hannah Daniel (North Oconee).
The Girls B Division features defending Louisiana Division 1 State Champion Saint Joseph’s Academy and a quartet of teams that finished as state finalists last season. The top seed Southlake Carroll finished fifth in last year’s Girls A Division and were ranked 6th in Texas’ Class 6A state rankings. The Dragons are led by senior Ashley Kim, an All-Tournament team selection from last year’s event. The second seed is Girls Preparatory School. The Bruisers, defending Tennessee Division II Class AA State Runner-Up, are led by Lipscomb signee Maddox Bandy. Heritage Hall, North Gwinnett and North Oldham are all coming off state runner-up finishes last season. Top players will include three-star sisters Brooke and Ryan Thompson (Heritage Hall), Georgia College & State University signee Emma Fleming (North Gwinnett) and defending Kentucky Doubles State Champions Katie and Emma Beavin (North Oldham).
The Girls C, D and E Divisions feature competitively balanced fields. The Girls C Division is led by top seed Harpeth Hall and second seed and defending Kentucky State Champion McCracken County. The Girls D Division is led by top seed Valor Christian and second seed Saint George’s. The 4-team Girls E Division features defending Tennessee Division I Class A/AA State Runner-Up Chattanooga Christian School. Top players in these divisions will include Georgia Southern signee Elizabeth Goines (Riverwood), Kentucky’s top ranked sophomore Nejla Zukic (DuPont Manual), 3-star freshman Alexandria Mann (Buford), senior Lizzie Nowak (Pensacola Catholic) and Georgetown College signee Maci Ferguson (Russell).
The Boys A Division features a talented field of eight teams that includes 4 defending state champions and three former Boys A Division Champions. The top overall seed is two-time Boys A Division Champion Hinsdale Central. The Red Devils, who finished 3rd in Illinois Class 2A last year, claimed their last Boys A Division title in 2014. They feature a loaded roster led by senior Lehigh commit Zachary Elliott, senior Andrew Buhelos and the country’s 26th ranked freshman Daniel Schmelka. The second seed is two-time defending Boys A Division Champion Spartanburg. The Vikings lost four of their top six players from last year’s South Carolina Class 4A State Championship team, but return 4-star senior and Wofford signee Bryce Keim and 4-star sophomore Ashe Ray. Defending Illinois Class 2A State Champions Naperville Central return 4-star senior Ryan Roegner and senior Grand Valley State signee Martin Matov. Defending Missouri Class 2A State Champions Rock Bridge, who finished third in last year’s Boys A Division return a deep roster led by a quartet of 3-star juniors. Defending Kentucky State Champions Saint Xavier, who finished fourth in last year’s Boys A Division and won the Boys A Division title in 2010 also headline the field. Top players will include 5-star junior Jonathan Mascagni (Milton), 4-star senior and University of Louisville signee Alex Wesbrooks (Saint Xavier), 4-star senior Quinn Fender (Saint Andrew’s), the nation’s 59th ranked freshman Ellis Short (Saint Andrew’s) of England and a pair of blue-chip recruits with the country’s 9th ranked freshman Luke Casper (Bellarmine Prep) and 19th ranked freshman Jacob Lowen (Saint Andrew’s).
The Boys B Division features a trio of defending state champions. The top seed Montgomery Bell Academy, defending Tennessee Division II Class AA State Champions, feature a talented roster led by the nation’s 23rd ranked freshman Baylor Sai. The Big Red finished in 11th place finish in last year’s Boys A Division. The second seed Southlake Carroll finished in fifth place in last year’s Boys A Division and were ranked 6th in Texas’ Class 6A state rankings. The Dragons are led by 4-star senior Arman Dave. Both Briarwood Christian and Catholic also enter the event as defending state champions. Top players will include the nation’s 28th ranked senior and University of South Carolina signee Nick Watson (Catholic), 4-star junior Thomas Montroy (Brookwood), 4-star freshman Luke Wolf (Briarwood Christian), 3-star junior Parker Bradbary (Briarwood Christian) and 3-star junior Paul Reynolds (DuPont Manual).
The Boys C, D, E and F Divisions feature a solid group of competitors. The Boys C Division is led by top seed Allen, ranked 7th in Texas’ Class 6A rankings, and second seed and tournament host Baylor. The Red Raiders are coming off a Tennessee Division II Class AA State Runner-Up finish last year. George Washington will look to claim their fourth straight championship in the event after claiming the Boys B Division title in 2014 and Boys C Division titles that last two years. The Boys D Division features two defending state champions and five defending state finalists. They are led by top seed Trinity, the defending Kentucky State Runner-Up. Defending Oklahoma Class 5A State Champion Heritage Hall is the second seed. The Boys E Division will feature defending Georgia Class 5A State Champions Starr’s Mill and three defending state finalists including top seed Parkersburg of West Virginia and second seed AC Flora of South Carolina. The 4-team Boys F Division will be led by a pair of defending state finalists in Carrollton and Pensacola Catholic. Top players in these divisions will include 4-star senior and Davidson signee Brooks Green (McGill-Toolen), 4-star senior and Air Force commit Jefferson Hobbs (Niceville), 4-star junior Zach Trimpe (Edwardsville), 4-star sophomore Hallet Green (McGill-Toolen), 4-star junior Brandon Chou (Trinity), 4-star freshman Walker Stearns (Saint George’s) and 3-star senior Brandon Kali (Baylor).
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