Brian Cadle

The DCHS boys’ tennis team ended regular season play on Tuesday with home victories over district rival Warren County, 8-1, and Watertown, 7-0. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 12-3 overall record and 5-1 in the district. Lance Duke and Ian Barnes were undefeated in singles and doubles, while Jackson Mathis, Luke Midgett, and Ethan Brown won both singles matches to lead the Tigers. The team clinched 2nd place in the district regular season behind Cookeville, which qualifies them for the team tournament. White County returns to Smithville for a semifinal team match on Friday. The Tigers pulled out a 5-4 victory earlier in the season, playing in a 6 singles, 3 doubles format. The TSSAA requires a 5 singles and 2 doubles tournament format, which poses a challenge for the boys. “Our boys and girls teams have both shown excellent depth throughout the season, especially in the district. We have won several matches, including White County, by clinching victories in the lower seeds, particularly 6 singles and 3 doubles. We will not have those positions in the tournament, meaning that our top seeds in singles and doubles need to step it up,” said DeKalb Head Tennis Coach Brian Cadle. “White County has some excellent players in their top positions. We are just as talented in those spots, but lost to them in the regular season. I am confident that our guys will be more ready this time around.”

The Lady Tigers lost on Tuesday to Warren County and Watertown, finishing their regular season with a 9-7 record and 3-4 in the district. While falling short of qualifying in the team tournament, Coach Cadle praised the girls for their substantial improvement this season. “I am so proud of this team and how the girls have improved since last season. We won six matches last year and almost reached ten wins this year. We are losing only one player from this year’s roster and returning everyone else. I know this group of girls will make the off-season commitments during the summer and fall continue to improve even more.”

Monday was senior day for the tennis program, with four players recognized: Charlotte Paladino, Ian Barnes, Jackson Mathis, and Luke Midgett. Each player has served an important role in helping the DCHS tennis team grow and improve into a competitive and successful program in the district and region. Paladino played in the #1 singles spot for the Lady Tigers for three seasons, a position that faces very stiff competition. “Charlotte has been the steady force on our girls’ team during her career. She assumed the #1 seed as a sophomore during a massive rebuilding year when we lost all of our matches in 2023. I am thankful for her commitment to sticking out those early challenges to lead our team to a 9-win season in 2025.” Barnes, Mathis, and Midgett joined the program as sophomores and helped the team emerge that year as a district contender, earning 2nd place in 2023. “I am thankful to Ian, Jackson, and Luke for helping our team rise to the top of our district behind Cookeville and alongside White County. They have partnered together to establish a foundation of success, a position we will strive to hold going forward.” Besides the team tournament match on Friday, the boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the individual singles and doubles rounds on Thursday, May 1st, and Friday, May 2nd.

The DCHS tennis teams ended a week of away matches with sweeps over Smyrna and Upperman. The victory over Upperman was a district win, as both DeKalb teams are vying for a spot in the end-of-season district team tournament. The tournament begins April 24th and includes the top four teams with the most regular-season wins. With six matches remaining until the tournament, five are against district opponents, including Cookeville, Livingston, Cumberland County, Stone Memorial, and Warren County.

The boys’ team had three starters, Lance Duke, Ethan Brown, and Cameron Ramsey, absent from the team for an FBLA state conference for Tuesday’s Smyrna match. Sophomore Boston Cantrell and freshman Zane Starkey achieved their first-ever varsity victories. Starkey teamed with senior Luke Midgett in doubles, winning his #5 singles match. Cantrell earned the win in #4 singles. Head Coach Brian Cadle was proud of his younger players stepping up. “Bos and Zane represent the future of our program as we are losing three seniors after this season. It was exciting to see them gain invaluable experience and also lead our team to a road victory.”

Abby Joe Crook led the girls’ team this week with an undefeated 4-0 record in her singles and double matches. Kayce Hale, Crook’s doubles partner, went 3-1 for the week, with her only loss coming in singles against Upperman. Charlotte Paladino, the lone senior on the team, went 3-1 for the week, capped by two wins against Upperman on Thursday. Crook, a junior, and Hale, a sophomore, have been integral to helping the Lady Tigers achieve a four-match winning streak. “Abby Joe has shown tremendous growth in her mental game this season. She can now move past a bad shot or lost point during a match, which helps her focus forward thinking to winning.” Hale has emerged as a consistent contributor to the varsity team after beginning her playing career in the fall of 2023. “Kayce is a young lady who simply loves the game of tennis. She is an outstanding student and person who has committed hours upon hours of practice. I know that Kayce comes out to the courts with her parents at all hours to work on her game. She does not miss an opportunity to play tennis. Her dedication is paying off for her and our program.”

The Lady Tigers are now 7-3 in the season, and the Tigers have moved to 8-2. DeKalb travels to Cookeville High School on Monday to play two district matches against CHS and Livingston Academy.

The DeKalb Lady Tiger Tennis team rallied from a 3-0 early deficit to pull out a 5-4 victory over Cannon County on Friday at the Smithville Golf Club. The girls started the match with losses at #1 and #2 singles and #1 doubles. Abby Joe Crook and Kayce Hale took the court at #2 doubles and kicked off the momentum change. Crook, Hale, and Jayde Lester all won their doubles and singles matches to account for the 5 match victories to seal the victory. Kaylee Hoersch partnered with Lester for the #3 doubles win. DeKalb Head Coach Brian Cadle praised the Lady Tigers’ comeback effort. “Cannon always brings solid and consistent players each year and provides a huge challenge for us. I am so proud of our girls and their continual improvement match by match.” The girls ended the week with a 5-3 record, winning against York last Monday.

The boys’ team dropped their match to the Lions by a score of 8-1. Lance Duke and Ian Barnes accounted for the sole victory for the Tigers. Cannon’s depth from the 1st to 6th seed was too much for DeKalb. “Our boys play together often in the off-season with Cannon County’s boys here in Smithville for our USTA Junior Team Tennis program. We know each other well and understand how deep Cannon’s team is. They simply got the best of us today.” The Tigers ended the week with a 6-2 record, as they also recorded a victory against York. DeKalb goes on the road for matches at Smyrna and Upperman before taking off Friday and Saturday for DeKalb County High School’s prom this weekend.