Ooltewah senior Caroline Denton learned a lot from last year — especially that an undefeated tennis season doesn’t necessarily mean postseason success.

The 2006 TSSAA Class AAA state semifinalist went undefeated in the regular season in 2007, but Denton was runner-up in the district and region. With that lesson learned, she advanced to play for her third district singles championship Monday in the 6-AAA individual tournament at Champions Club.

Denton, a state quarterfinalist in 2005, faces Red Bank’s Amy Metcalf for the girls’ singles title this afternoon at 3:30 at Champions Club. In doubles, Ooltewah’s Jessica Crum and Allison Varnell play Soddy-Daisy’s Andrea and Christy Johnson for the championship.

Red Bank’s Jarvis Appleberry and Jeff Conner will play for the boys’ singles championship, while Ooltewah’s Caleb Friddell and Steffen Chrocz face Soddy-Daisy’s Bret Wade and Austin Smith for the doubles crown.

Denton defeated Soddy-Daisy’s Amie Usry in the quarterfinals and Red Bank’s Danielle Linhart in the semifinals.

“I made it to state my first two years, and last year was kind of a letdown,” Denton said. “I came into this saying it’s my senior year and I have to make the most of it. I was a little nervous coming in because I want to do well and I had to face Danielle. She’s one of the best players in our district, and that’s a lot of pressure for a semifinal.”

n District 6-A/AA: Chattanooga Christian’s Will Reynolds has played tennis with the Chargers for three years, but he participated in the district individual tournament for the first time Monday at Champions Club. He advanced to today’s semifinal round in boys’ singles, starting at 1 p.m. today at Champions Club.

Also advancing were Notre Dame’s Ted and John Dorris, along with Lookout Valley’s Tanner Stancil, a 2007 Class A/AA state quarterfinalist. In girls’ singles, CCS’s Anne Marie Rowe and Stephanie Sizemore, Notre Dame’s Kris Cambron and Caitlin Robbins reached the semifinals.

Conflicts prevented Reynolds from playing in the individual postseason tournament in the past. In eighth grade, he went on a class trip to Washington, D.C., during the playoffs. As a freshman, he played instead in a USTA junior tournament to qualify for summer competitions.

In 2007, Reynolds left CCS to attend Chattanooga State Middle College but returned this year because he missed the school.

“I was really looking forward to this, and I just want to keep playing and advance,” Reynolds said. “I played well today, and I hope I can keep it up for the rest of the tournament.”