Highlights: Briarwood Christian Boys and Sardis Girls Win AHSAA Tennis Titles in Mobile

Two programs stood out at the 80th AHSAA State Tennis Championships on Friday as the sun set behind the Mobile Tennis Center's courts. The girls' team from Sardis High School won their first-ever Class 4A/5A state tennis championship with a dominant performance. In the meantime, the boys' team from Briarwood Christian fought their way back to the top, defeating Deshler High by a single, crucial point to win their fifth overall title and their first since 2019.

Sardis Girls Present the Past

The Sardis girls were very dominant under Coach Dustin Young's steady direction. They scored 65 points, more than third-place Saint James (36 points) and second-place Deshler (42 points). It was more than just a victory; it was a declaration. With the kind of momentum that elevates underdogs to legendary status, Sardis dominated the competition.

Among the most notable tales? Junior Callie Rae Bonds had a flawless 43-0 singles record going into the competition. Bonds did not go empty-handed, despite losing to Randolph's Lova Stenberg (26-4) in a fierce 6-3, 6-3 victory in the No. 1 singles final. She and Jayden Johnson defeated Stenberg and Emma Skinner by a slim margin, 7-5, 7-5, to claim the No. 1 doubles title. It was a master class in perseverance and atonement.

Christian Boys of Briarwood: Winners by a Thread

The difference between success and heartache was extremely narrow over in the boys' division.

In a thrilling, comeback victory in the No. 3 pairs final, Briarwood Christian, led by Coach Jay Wise, defeated Deshler by only one point to win the Class 4A/5A boys championship. After losing their opening set to Randolph's Faywad Ismail and Tru Bynum, Rhett Shaddinger and Baker Cullum turned the tide with the title on the line. The pair stormed back to win the team title with a grueling 2-6, 6-3, 10-6 victory.

Deshler's Everette Minshew ensured his name would be remembered as Briarwood raised the trophy. The junior, who is currently 39-1 on the year, defeated John Carroll Catholic's Will Magruder 7-5, 6-2 to retain his No. 1 singles crown. Minshew was not finished; he and partner Brody Black defeated Alec Perez and Jani Martin, Briarwood's top combo, 7-5, 6-2, to win the No. 1 doubles title.

A Contest of Courage, Style, and New Times

The AHSAA tennis scene saw profound changes as a result of this year's finals. The 4A/5A field was open as traditional powerhouses like Houston Academy and UMS-Wright advanced to Class 6A, while Sardis and Briarwood took advantage of the opportunity. It was a breakthrough for Sardis and a return to tradition for Briarwood.

Beyond the medals and games, though,
This competition served as a reminder of the true spirit of high school athletics: young players giving their all, pursuing a legacy, and occasionally losing graciously before rising to the occasion.

One thing is certain as Mobile's courts get quiet and rackets are put away for another year: the memories of this competition, including the applause, the comebacks, the broken records, and the first-time victories, will last much longer than the final score.