The 11th annual DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships, presented by Icy Hot, will mark the event’s fourth year in Chattanooga on Friday and Saturday.
The 2018 edition of the tournament will feature the largest field in tournament history with 80 teams from 14 states. This year will mark the third straight year that both the boys and girls events will be played on the same weekend. A format change is taking place this year as all tournament divisions will consist of eight teams or less with a total of 11 divisions. The 2018 participants will include 17 defending team state champions and 19 defending state finalists. There are 22 seniors that have already committed to play collegiate tennis competing in the event.
The Boys and Girls A Divisions feature the strongest girls’ field in tournament history. Five defending state champions will headline the field that includes two former Girls A Division Champions. The Boys A Division features a talented field of eight teams that includes 4 defending state champions and three former Boys A Division Champions. The top overall seed is two-time Boys A Division Champion Hinsdale Central. The second seed is two-time defending Boys A Division Champion Spartanburg.
The Boys and Girls B Division’s features defending Louisiana Division 1 State Champion Saint Joseph’s Academy and a quartet of teams that finished as state finalists last season. The top seed Southlake Carroll finished fifth in last year’s Girls A Division and were ranked 6th in Texas’ Class 6A state rankings. The second seed is Girls Preparatory School, coming off a Tennessee Division II Class AA State Runner-Up. The Boys B Division features a trio of defending state champions. The top seed Montgomery Bell Academy is the defending Tennessee Division II Class AA State Champions.
The Boys and Girls C, D and E Divisions feature competitively balanced fields. The Girls C Division is led by top seed Harpeth Hall and second seed and defending Kentucky State Champion McCracken County. The Girls D Division is led by top seed Valor Christian and second seed Saint George’s. The 4-team Girls E Division features the Tennessee Division I Class A/AA State Runner-Up Chattanooga Christian School. The Boys C Division is led by top seed Allen, ranked 7th in Texas’ Class 6A rankings, and second seed and tournament host Baylor. The Red Raiders are coming off a Tennessee Division II Class AA State Runner-Up finish last year.
For more information visit the DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships website at www.hstennischampionships.com.