McIntosh boys win state tennis tournament

The McIntosh boys tennis team took top honors at the 2nd Annual Georgia State School Team Finals held Dec. 5-6 in Macon.

The event, sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association, featured 260 high school and middle school players from across Georgia. After besting teams from Houston County, Valdosta High, and Walton High in a round robin format, the McIntosh boys advanced to the championship round, where they defeated the team from North Cobb with a score of 3-2.

North Cobb, made up of top nationally ranked players, had swept their division, losing just one match in three-team competitions. Although North Cobb was heavily favored, McIntosh prevailed, with wins from Austin Emmet, Jake Koonce, and the doubles team of Femi Brinson/Stewart Weisheit, to win 3-2 and take the state championship title.

In singles matches, Emmet won three of four matches, winning his finals match in a second-set tiebreaker to win the championship. Keelan Klarl won three matches, with a deciding win in the semifinals. Koonce went undefeated to score four wins for McIntosh, winning each match in straight sets. In doubles competition, the team of Jamie Crawford and Wes Roberts scored one win, as did the team of Biola Brinson and Wes Roberts.

The team of Femi Brinson and Stewart Weisheit went undefeated in four matches, winning their semifinals match in a close tiebreak to clinch a spot in the championship match.
The McIntosh boys were coached by Patrick Emmet. During the regular high school tennis season in the spring, the McIntosh tennis team is coached by Karen Smith.

Teams competing in Macon had advanced from regional competition held Nov. 21-22. Other Fayette teams who reached the finals were McIntosh girls and Starr’s Mill’s boys and girls.