April 27, 2025
By: 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.