Boys and girls from 60 teams across Tennessee competed the last two days in the Junior Team Tennis state tournament in Chattanooga, in age groups ranging from 10-under to 18-under.
They filled courts at the Champions Club/Rivermont Park and at Baylor School and the Brainerd complex, and things went remarkably well. Twelve teams go back out this morning in pursuit of championships in the 12-, 14- and 18-under intermediate-level divisions, but the 10-under intermediate and 12s and 14s advanced titles were determined Saturday.
Chattanooga teams remain alive in 12s and 14s going into the intermediate semifinals.
The Knoxville Racquet Club won both three-team advanced divisions in double-round-robin play, and two Nashville teams led the 10s intermediates, Maryland Farms finishing first with the Ridgeland Gators the runners-up.
Coaches and others were generally effusive in their praise for USTA Tennessee and its tournament director, Tara Williams.
"Everything's smooth. It's been a delight. She's a delight," said Joey Hall, a coach with the Knoxville Fort Sanders contingent. "Credit for the organization as a whole and Tara in particular on site."
Williams, in turn, praised the local organizations and volunteers helping with the event.
"We wouldn't be able to do this tournament without the Chattanooga Tennis Association and the Chattanooga Sports Committee," she said. "This group of people just makes this sort of event possible. There's no way USTA Tennessee could do this the way we do it without them. It's amazing to work with these volunteers who put in their time for three days."
Guessing the volunteer corps at "over 20," she added that "they do things from hospitality to what we call 'delivering' each site each morning and breaking down the sites in the evening. And the Sports Committee helped with the player party and delivered lunches to the officials and volunteers. Everybody has been just wonderful to work with."
Contact Ron Bush at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.