By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

On the weekend of April 10, seventh grade friends Nicole Nowak and Emma Huner won the Metro South Tennis Tournament Girls Doubles title.

The tournament was held at Bumpus Middle School. This was the first time Thompson Middle School has taken a first place win.

All seven teams in the area competed with the TMS girls doubles team being seeded seventh.

Nowak and Huner defeated the Pizitz team 6-0, Homewood 6-0 and Simmons 8-0.  In the finals against Mountain Brook they were victorious by a 9-7 score.

Thompson Middle School coach Andrea Fordham is their school coach.

Both girls also have other coaches outside the local school system.

Nowak is actively involved at Westwood Baptist Church and is in Journey (a Christian organization for girls at TMS) along with drama and music.

She was a member of the “Hairspray” production this spring. These activities along with membership in the National Junior Honor Society keep her busy at school.

Nowak’s ambition is to be in the top 10 standings of the USTA (United States Tennis Association).

Nowak says, “To keep playing tennis and perhaps go to an SEC college on scholarship would be my dream,” she said.

Mother Kimberly Collins Nowak and father Shannon Nowak plus brothers Payton, age 11, and Joey, age 10, are proud of her accomplishments.

Grandparents are Sandra and Darryl Collins and Pat and Joe Nowak.

Auburn fan Huner is also active at Westwood Baptist Church, played volleyball this past year and has many of the same aspirations as her friend Nicole: To include furthering her tennis career, college, etc.

Huner has been taking tennis lessons since she was 6.  She, too, is in the seventh grade and 13 years old.

Parents Patrick and Christie Huner and brother Josh make up Huner’s family.

They are especially proud of Huner’s accomplishments.

To say Thompson Middle School is proud of these girls would be an understatement. What a feat!

Congrats girls, parents and coaches. We look for more accomplishments in the future.