State tennis (FINAL): Walton wins sixth straight

The Westminster girls sent coach Scoot Dimon into retirement with a state championship.

The girls doused Dimon with a bucket of water to celebrate their 3-2 victory over Calhoun in the Class AAA championship match. The veteran coach plans to move to Naples, Fla., “and maybe play some tennis,” he said.

“The girls were nice to me to send me out with a state championship,” Dimon said. “We’ve won a lot of championships and it all comes down to the kids.”

Calhoun won the two singles matches behind McCartney Kessler and Carly Briggs. Westminster won No. 1 doubles with Caitlyn Margol and Maya Sinha and No. 2 doubles with Claire Corbin and Cyan D’Anjou.

The decisive point came from senior Abby Seitz, who won 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3 singles to clinch the title.

“Abby is a senior and that’s what seniors do,” Dimon said. “Seniors know what it’s like.”

Class AAA boys: Westminster finished its second straight undefeated season and beat Pace Academy 3-0. The Wildcats had already beaten Pace twice this season.

Westminster got wins in singles from Josh Pinckney and Blair Nagel and the No. 1 doubles team of Jack Gabriel and Jack McDonald.

Westminster had five first-year starters, but managed to win its seventh consecutive championship.

Class AA girls: Bleckley County swept Screven County 3-0 to win its first championship. The Royals got wins from Abby Sims and Hanna Dykes in singles and from the No. doubles team of Regan Cole and Bailey Odom, who stepped in when regular Jordan Williams injured her hamstring on Wednesday.

Class AA boys: Bleckley County got the deciding win at No. 3 singles from Bronson Sanders and beat Model 3-2. The Royals also got a win at No. 1 singles from Harsh Patel and at No. 1 doubles from Dayton Cannon and Will Collins.

Class A Public girls: Drew Charter finished and undefeated season and won its first state championship by beating Trion 3-2 in the Class A Public girls final.

The Eagles swept the three singles matches. Autumn Clemons won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 and sister Summer Clemons won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2. The deciding victory came at No. 3 singles, where Naima Cooper prevailed.

Trion won the two doubles matches behind Laurie Gentry and Shayla Youngblood at No. 1 and Shelby Carlock and Emily Patterson at No. 2.

Class A Private boys: Stratford Academy swept the three singles matches and defeated Mt. Paran Christian to win its second title in three years. Mark Barrow won at No. 1 singles to complete and undefeated season and brother Samuel Barrow won at No. 2. The deciding match was won at No. 3 singles, where freshman Daniel Cohen prevailed.

Class A Private girls: Brookstone defeated Wesleyan 3-2 to win the championship for the second straight year. Wesleyan had won two straight titles at a different classification.

Class A Public boys: Irwin County made quick work of Telfair County, winning 3-0. It was the first boys tennis championship for Irwin County