For The Tribune
Tennis teams comprised of mostly Trussville kids won area titles in every age group in the Greater Birmingham Area USTA Junior Team Tennis League.
The Totally Tuff Tennis team, organized and coached by Mark Dayton, swept the area titles and won big at the state championships in Auburn.
Nine of the 11 Totally Tuff Tennis teams went to the state championships in Auburn. Two of them, the 10 intermediates and 14 intermediates, won state championships. Finishing in second place were the 18 intermediates, 18 beginners, 10 beginners, 8 intermediates and 8 beginners. The 14 beginners and 12 intermediates took third place.
“I am so proud of all the players, coaches and parents in our tennis family,” Dayton said.
Team members include, from the 8-year-old first-year team, Ellie Key, Riley Key, Kalea Townes, Emma Lombardo, Jaydon Stone, Miller McLeod, Riggs McLeod, LaDonna Scott, Kathryn Ann Waller, Morgan Kidd, Karsten Klotz and Madison Klotz. The team is coached by Holli McLeod and Dayton.
The 8-year-old beginner team includes Braxton Strickland, Cameron Sodec, Diego Harris, Jase Leamon, Jewel Allen, Jonas Wilson, Makenzi Arrington, Taylor Oare and Walker Payne. Coaches are Jason Leamon, Jeremy Sodec and Dayton.
The 8-year-old intermediates include Anna Beth Hill, Cameron Crow, Grayson Dayton, Isabella Hall, John Creed and Noland Armstrong. Coaches are John Creed, Bret Hill and Dayton.
The 10-year-old first-year team is comprised of Skyler Klotz, Sapphire Allen, Owen Shumate, Wallace Rutledge, Caroline Mitchell, Marissa Warnock and Emari Fletcher. Coaches are MJ Dudley and Dayton.
The 10-year-old beginners are Ellen Sartwell, Lilley Sartwell, Grayson Dayton, Jackson Bryan, Noland Armstrong, Chase Armstrong, Ethan Wilson, Caroline Daniel and Owen Shumate. Coaches are Claire Sartwell, Mike Bryan, Hank Armstrong and Dayton.
The 10-year-old intermediates are Connor Newton, Blakely Valdez, Elizabeth Freeman, Colton Hollingsworth, Tiana Shelton and James Oare. Coaches are Linda Oare, Gerald Henderson and Dayton.
The 12-year-old beginners are Alyssa Martin, Zachary Beaver, Ellen Sartwell, Lilley Sartwell, Tiana Shelton, Lauren Womack, Connor Newton, Colton Hollingsworth, Donivan Wilson, Campbell Doidge, Kaitlin Turner, Ruth Okorley, Lina Okorley and Austin Hill. Coaches are Claire Sartwell, MJ Dudley, Bret Hill and Dayton.
The 12-year-old intermediate team is made up of Connor Simon, Julia Gallagher, William Tortorice, Maggie Tortorice, Reese Palmer, Prescott Bush and John Stanford. Coaches are Gerald Henderson, MJ Dudley and Dayton.
The 14-year-old beginners are Brendan Tucker, Regan Parkman, Parker Statham, Mason Strickland, Kayla Rutledge, Caroline Hill, Izaiah Jones, Harry Le, Ian Van Winkle and Corbin Paddock. Coaches are Brett Hill, Milton Dudley and Dayton.
The 14-year-old intermediate team that won the state championship includes Alana Dayton, Evan Oliver, Aspen Seeds, Laura Lopresti, Chris Mines, Brad Harvey, Anna Lauren Partee, Jake Lovell and Brooke Hollingsworth. Coaches are Dayton and Richard Harvey.
The 18-year-old beginners are Sara Ashley Giambrone, Joel Dunn, Brooke Hollingsworth, Laura Lopresti, Benjamin Beaver, Christian Wirtz, Tamerreo Tatum, Meg Hayslip, Ashlea Womack, Ukki Trumann, Micah Roden, Kate Dodson, Elizabeth Statham and Anne Doidge. Coaches are Greg Dunn, MJ Dudley and Dayton.
The 18-year-old intermediates are Cole Camp, Donny Camp, Alana Dayton, Aspen Seeds, Emily Stover, Katie Strickland, Megan Strickland, Rachael Palmer, Steven Harvey, Taylor Harris, Eric Oare and Hunter Franklin. Coaches are Eric Oare, Russell Palmer and Dayton.