Thrall Tiger Team Tennis enjoyed an amazing run this fall.
Coach Brenda Graham’s Tigers and Tigerettes won the District Championship and advanced to the Regional Finals/State Quarterfinals before falling to powerful Franklin.
Thrall Team Tennis competed for only their 2nd year in Class 4A this fall. In Team Tennis, 2 schools face off in a team match, and the winner advances. A team match means each team squares off in 6 boys singles matches and 6 girls singles matches, as well as 3 boys doubles and 3 girls doubles matches. The first team to win 10 matches wins the overall team match.
Coach Graham anticipated that the Tigers and Tigerettes would have a good chance to win district, which would result in a better seed in the tournament. One sign of growth was the team matches against Caldwell. The Tigers lost to Caldwell earlier in the season 10-9, but then made some adjustments and won the 2nd match a couple of weeks later, 12-7.
The Tigers clinched the #1 seed in district, which meant they would play the #4 seed in the opposing district in the first round. Thrall took advantage and defeated Giddings in the first round, 19-0. The Tigers would beat Needville in the 2nd round 14-5, and beat Bellville in the 3rd round 11 to 8.
The Tigers reached the Regional Semifinals where they faced off against Groesbeck. Graham noted that it appeared that the Tigers had the advantage, and were on the verge of advancing to the Regional Finals. But Graham says things changed in a hurry.
“All of a sudden, the tables turned and we lost a couple of those, and it ended up being 9-all, with one match left, and that was our number 6 boys singles match.”
The Tigers would hang on to win and advance to the Regional Finals. Graham said that when players finish their match, she encourages them to go support their teammates in other matches. She didn’t have to tell her team to do so this time.
“It was wonderful to see how our players rallied around this one match, because whoever won it won the match and went to the finals.”
And after the victory, Graham says the excitement will be something the players can take with them forever.
“The crowd, and everybody celebrating was just wonderful. It’s a moment I don’t think any of us will really forget.”
The team would go on to fall to Franklin in the Regional Finals.
Last year was the first for Thrall to play in the Class 4A division in team tennis. The 2025 season will go down as longest 4A run for the Tigers. The 2025 team is also the first to win a 4A trophy for Thrall.
Graham will say good bye to a big group of seniors, with several top players graduating, including 3 captains. “Definitely, all of them played a role. Some that played on the lower end, they were just key on the maturity and the leadership, helping the younger ones.”
Graham understands that many of her players are multi-sport athletes, and between other sports and schoolwork, sometimes the grind can wear down players when it comes time to practice. But she says, a little inspiration and a little fun can go a long way.
“I always tell them, ‘It’s so much fun when you win, and if you’ll practice and work hard, then those things will eventually happen.’ I try to instill that in every one, to go out there and do your best and try hard, and the other will come. Enjoy it and have fun in what you’re doing.”