Lady ’Lander Anchalee Chinwitayakul finished as the Class AA singles runner-up to highlight First Presbyterian Christian Academy’s play in the Georgia Independent School Association Class AA state tournament last week in Macon.
According to FPCA coach April Causer that was just one of several milestones the team hit this season.
The Highlander boys won the Region 2-AA title before heading to the state tournament, while the Lady ’Landers finished second. Chinwitayakul made the All-Region and All-State teams. Parris Willis made the All-Region team singles player. Jameson Golson and Demetrius Williams made the All-Region doubles team. And Causer was the Region Coach of the Year.
“They had a lot of accomplishments this year,” Causer said, noting the recent region realignment meant a few of their stronger former Region 2-AA opponents played in a different class this year. “But we also had a lot of strong players this year, and they pulled it out.”
At the region tournament, Chinwitayakul won the singles title. In the boys’ division, Williams took first place in the region singles final, and Golson and Williams won the doubles championship match.
Chinwitayakul was a newcomer to the tennis team this season, joining returning players Sarah McPhearson and Michelle Roberts. Carrah Cochrane and Makayla Alexander were the doubles team. For the boys, Golson was back from last season, Willis was a transfer from Liberty County High School and Williams was a newcomer.
Causer said the boys won all but one of their matches this year. The girls started strong, winning most of their matches, but struggled against Citizens Christian, their toughest region foe.
At the state tournament, Chinwitayakul played strong in the final but fell to Ariel Schneider of Furtah Prep.
Causer said the Highlanders made it to the second round of both the singles and doubles matches of the tournament. In round two, both lost to Brandon Hall-College Preparatory Boarding School. In the girls’ doubles division, the Lady ’Landers fell in the first round.
“It’s been great … I enjoyed this season,” Causer said, adding that the team may be in a rebuilding stage next season. “I am very proud of them. They played great and did a wonderful job.”