CLEVELAND, Tenn. — There was a different feel in the first day of the District 5-A/AA tennis tournament Thursday.
It still was held at the DeVos Tennis Center at Lee University, but other than that, not much resembled the previous few seasons.
There was no Tarah Garner, Boyd-Buchanan’s two-time Class A/AA state champion and five-time district champion who now plays for Lee. Nathan Schley, the two-time defending boys’ champion, transferred from Grace Academy before tennis season.
Arts & Sciences’ Kelly twins, Kayla and Ahmee, now compete in District 6-A/AA. Collegedale Academy’s Patrick O’Brien was the only defending champion remaining, and even he lost partner Lincoln Duff from the district doubles champions.
The defectors have paved the way for some new names at the top, with 24 semifinalists entering today’s competition with hopes of earning district titles.