Jackson Progress-Argus

Photo by Mike Davis

The Jackson High School boys' and girls' tennis teams began their 2011 seasons on Tuesday, Feb. 8, with matches against the Golden Eagles and Lady Eagles at Eagle's Landing High School in Henry County.

The Lady Devils lost against Eagle's Landing, 2-3, losing the deciding match in a tie-breaker. The Red Devils fell to Eagle's Landing, 1-4.

The lineup for the Lady Devils is a mixture of senior, junior, and sophomore players, with two freshmen practicing with the team in back-up positions. Junior Courtney Hebert is playing No. 1 Singles for Jackson. Senior Ericka Bernhardt is in the No. 2 Singles position, and Junior Lindsay Collins is starting the season at the No. 3 Singles spot.

Senior Phantasia Davis and Sophomore Sydney Strickland are the No. 1 Doubles team for the Lady Devils, and Sophomores Heiley Dorrough and Chelsea Wilson are at No. 2 Doubles. Rounding out the 2011 Lady Devils Tennis Team are Freshmen McKayla Smith and Emily Barnes.

Returning for his third year at No. 1 Singles for the JHS Red Devils is Junior Jo Jo Kersey. Senior Ian Cooke is the No. 2 Singles player for the Red Devils, and Senior Josh Lenz is playing No. 3 Singles.

Seniors Joe Glanton and Dusty Parris make up the Red Devils' No. 1 Doubles pair, and Senior Josh Bell and Sophomore Matt Hammock represent Jackson at the No. 2 Doubles spot. The utility players for the JHS Boys' Tennis Team are Juniors Alex Ortiz and John Carrey.

Jessica Jernigan, JHS science teacher, is returning as head coach of the tennis teams, which practice jointly. Elizabeth McConnell-Granger, JHS language arts teacher, is also returning as assistant coach for the teams.

The teams play at Lamar County on Wednesday, Feb. 16, and are then next scheduled to play against Salem High School on March 7 and Eastside on March 8, both at home. Home games are played at the Butts County Parks & Recreation Department tennis courts behind the Community Center on Ernest Biles Drive, in Jackson, and usually begin at 4:30 p.m.