Area Boys Tennis

June 11, 2011 at 1:00 a.m. | Updated June 11, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

Player of the Year

photo Joe Elphingstone

Joe Elphingstone

Known as more of a quiet person, Elphingstone let his play speak volumes for Calhoun during his senior season. The Tusculum College signee finished 17-1, his only loss coming in the Georgia Class AA playoffs. The southpaw helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the second round, where they were defeated by Blessed Trinity.

"Joseph is very dedicated to the sport of tennis. He loves the game and it was very evident in his four years as a Calhoun tennis player," coach Lynn Davis said. "You could always find Joseph at the courts. If he wasn't practicing with his team, he was there hitting with someone or playing pickup doubles matches. He was our strongest singles player but should fit in well at the next level playing singles and doubles."

Coach of the Year

photo David Hilley

David Hilley

Dalton

Ninth Year

Hilley's ninth Dalton boys' team finished second in the Georgia Region 7-AAA tournament and went to the Class AAA state playoffs. The Catamounts' season ended with a second-round loss to Carrollton, but Hilley was convinced his young squad - with only one senior - matured over the course of the 2011 campaign.

"There was a certain cohesiveness about this year's team that already has me looking forward to next year," Hilley said. "We had a lot of new faces, but with some good leadership we were able to come together as a team. It was nice to see that happen, and we're going to try to build on that and be better next year."

First Team

photo Michael Barlok

Michael Barlok

McMinn County

Junior

Barlok was 14-3 in singles and helped the Cherokees to the Class AAA state tournament.

photo Hunter Carson

Hunter Carson

Dalton

Junior

Carson finished with a 12-5 record while playing No. 1 singles for the Catamounts.

photo Hadyn Fava

Hadyn Fava

Heritage

Junior

Fava finished 10-3 in his third season of playing No. 1 singles for the Generals.

photo Nick McWherter

Nick McWherter

Rhea County

Sophomore

McWherter was 12-1 in singles in the regular season, and he and Dylan Coulter were district and region runners-up.

photo Fenil Patel

Fenil Patel

McMinn County

Senior

Patel was 15-2 in singles and helped lead the Cherokees to the Class AAA state tournament.

photo Ben Watson

Ben Watson

Walker Valley

Senior

Watson finished 15-2, won the District 5-AAA and Region 3 titles and reached the state singles semifinals.

Doubles

Fenil Patel (senior) / Michael Barlok (junior), McMinn County

Dylan Coulter (junior) / Nick McWherter (sophomore), Rhea County

B.J. Rowland (sophomore) / Thomas Delay (freshman), Dalton

P.K. Bhatter (sophomore) / Mitchell Wilson (junior), Dalton

Teams of the Year

  1. DALTON (15-4)

The Catamounts finished second in Region 7-AAA and advanced to the second round of the Georgia Class AAA state playoffs.

  1. HERITAGE (8-3)

The Generals took third in the Region 7-AAA tournament and reached the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs.

  1. McMINN COUNTY (15-1)

The Cherokees won Tennessee's District 5-AAA and Region 3 tournaments and advanced to the state semifinals.

Second team

Nathan Bryant Dalton Freshman

Dylan Coulter Rhea County Junior

Zach Davis Murray County Senior

Matthew Pannell McMinn County Junior

Jake Pullen Cleveland Senior

Price Puryear Dalton Senior

Upcoming Events