FROM STAFF REPORTS

MOBILE – Senior Frannie Ware, and freshman Callie Ware led the Briarwood girls tennis team to a 6A State Championship on April 30, with each sister collecting a singles title along the way.

Frannie won her first individual state title on Court No. 4, while Callie added her second career title, first for this year, on Court No. 2 in singles. Callie won a singles title on Court No. 6 last year.

The team had a strong showing across the board that saw all six singles players advance to at least the semifinals, four singles players advanced to the finals and two out of three doubles courts advanced to at least the semifinals, to help total up a team state championship for the Lions.

The Lions could add one more state title to their repertoire as well. Senior Jud Tarence will play for the Court No. 1 Championship Tuesday in Cullman, against Lilly Holmes of Florence due to a four-match-per-day-limit by AHSAA rules. The match will not affect the team outcome.

This one was especially sweet after last year, when the Lions had four individual state champions, but finished a close second in the team standings.  Sources close to the program say it was a motivating factor this year for a team that was expected to be rebuilding after the departure of two of their top three players from last year.

This year’s team won the Auburn Tournament, The Shelby County Tournament, The Sectional Tournament and now the State Tournament.  They compiled a regular season record of 10-1, losing only to 7A state champion Vestavia Hills early in the season.

The Briarwood Boys also had a great year finishing sixth at the State Tournament.  The Boys finished third in the Auburn Tournament, won the Shelby County Tournament, and won the Sectional Tournament.  They compiled an 8-3 regular season record which featured a big win over defending state champion Hillcrest of Tuscaloosa.