SYLVANIA, GA - The Lake Oconee Academy boys’ tennis team dominated in its Final Four match against Screven County last weekend to earn a spot in the GHSA Class A-Public State Championship at Berry College this week.
The Titans beat the Gamecocks 3-0 and continue to dominate in their historic season.
However, head coach Tom Imhof acknowledged that their final match might be tougher than any they have played in up to this point.
“In any championship, it’s never easy. Especially when you take into consideration that it’s probably the first time that any of these kids have played in something this big,” Imhof said. “I’m sure there’s going to be some nerves there, but there will probably be nerves on both sides of the court.”
Up to this point in the season, most of the Titans have yet to get rattled by the increased level of talent they face as they get deeper into the playoffs.
Lake Oconee Academy has only lost one game through four state playoff rounds and is led by junior Cooper Ciavola, who is the team’s top singles player.
Ciavola has not lost more than one game in a match this entire season, and he is accompanied by fellow junior Maddox Cantrell, who has not lost more than two games in any match over the course of the year.
Couple those two guys with a dynamic No. 1 doubles team in senior Noah Gessner and freshman Adam Kalmanowicz and the Titans have been difficult to beat.
So far, Lake Oconee Academy is a perfect 12-0 on the season. The Titans are also coming off beating the defending state champions in Seminole County last week.
Imhof hopes to keep the momentum going heading into the team’s final match of the year, and that the moment isn’t too big for his players.
“They have like 50 courts there, and all the state championships are being played at the same time from Private-A to Class AAAAAAA,” Imhof said. “It’s a big tournament, but I think they’ll be locked in and prepared.”
The Titans will face off against Telfair County in the state finals on Saturday at Berry College in Rome, Ga. They are seeking their firstever tennis state championship in school history.