Morgan County’s boys and girls tennis teams have added another milestone to a standout spring.
Both squads captured region championships and continued a run of success built this spring.
For head coach Conner Perry, the achievement checked off the top priority set well before the season even began.
“That was number one on both boys’ and girls’ goal lists for this season,” Perry said. “We started back in January, and that was the standard.”
On the boys’ side, continuity played a major role in the run to a region title.
With only one starter lost from last year’s roster, Morgan County entered the season with a more settled lineup and fewer adjustments to make.
“The boys have been a little bit more put together in terms of their lineup,” Perry said. “They didn’t have as much to figure out.”
A major boost came from senior foreign exchange student Massimo Polano, who stepped into the No. 1 singles role and quickly became both a leader and tone-setter for the program.
Alongside him, Aiden West and Leyton Hull provided stability in singles after returning from varsity experience a season ago. Perry also pointed to junior Charlie Arnold as a key doubles contributor and an important part of the team’s growing leadership structure.
“He’s been a real motivator to the other guys,” Perry said of Polano. “And between Charlie and Leyton, they’ve really embraced being leaders.”
That leadership has helped define what Perry believes is one of the strongest overall lineups Morgan County has ever fielded.
“Top to bottom, this is the strongest lineup Morgan County’s put out,” he said.
While the boys benefited from continuity, the girls team had to rebuild after graduating three starters from last year’s squad, creating early uncertainty and forcing new players into larger roles.
“We lost three starters on the girls team,” Perry said. “So there was a little more uncertainty going into this season.”
That challenge showed early in region play when Morgan County dropped a tight 3–2 decision to Pike County during the regular season. But the narrow loss became a turning point rather than a setback.
“All three of the losses were just by an inch,” Perry said. “It left a salty taste in our mouths.”
The two teams met again in the region championship, and this time, Morgan County flipped the result.
Perry said the difference was not just in execution but also in growth in team chemistry and engagement over the course of the season.
“The interaction amongst the players has been one of the biggest changes,” he said. “The genuine support, the cheering, the engagement— it’s been huge.”
On the court, junior Lyssa Schafer anchored the No. 1 singles position with a relentless, competitive approach. At the same time, sophomore Makenna Cannington made a major leap at No. 2 singles, developing into a steady and adaptable presence.
“She’s been a rock,” Perry said of Cannington. “Her growth, her intensity, and her ability to make adjustments have been really impressive.”
With region championships now secured, Morgan County enters the postseason with momentum—and bigger goals still ahead. Last year, both teams reached the Elite Eight, but Perry believes this group is built to push further.
“The goal is jewelry,” Perry said. “The goal is a ring.”
He added that the identity of both teams has shifted in a meaningful way, with players taking ownership of leadership roles and driving standards within the program.
“It’s not just coach-led anymore,” Perry said. “They’ve embraced being player-led. And that’s made all the difference.”