8-AAA All-Region Tennis Team Announced

High School tennis in Oconee County got another boost this past week as the 2013 8-AAA All-Region Tennis Team was released. 

Under the new GHSA 2012-13 AAA realignment, Oconee County and North Oconee were in the same region for the first time this season. The result in region 8-AAA was a record 23 players on the All-Region first and second team from one county....Oconee. The dominating numbers seem to verify tennis' increasing popularity in Oconee County over the past 10-15 years, with a talent pool that seems to be rapidly growing. 

Appropriately, the OCHS boys were crowned region champs again this year, while the NOHS Lady Titans won region in their AAA debut. The OCHS Lady Warriors were runner up in region.

OCHS led the way, placing 12 on 8-AAA All-Region team, including 8 on the Boys' All-Region first and second team. The Lady Warriors added four to the first and second team.

North Oconee placed another 11 on the All-Region first and second teams, including eight on the Girls' All-Region first and second team. The Titans were led by junior Peter Bertran, who was undefeated during the season, and was voted Region Boys' Player of the Year. NOHS senior Rebecca Bruning was voted Girls' Region Player.

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Other season highlights for the Warriors included OCHS #2 singles player Drew Horsley winning 21 of 22 matches at #2 singles, Chandler Shields and Zach Miner going undefeated at #2 doubles and departing senior Will McDonald amassing 70 total wins over his four years on varsity.

For NOHS, senior Amber Hudson, playing at #2 singles, went 18-2 over the season and won 65 total matches for the Lady Titans since her freshman year. She went undefeated in region play over her 4 year career at NOHS.

OCHS' legendary Coach Dan Gruetter, who will retire at the end of the school year was voted Boys' Region Coach of the Year. Gruetter compiled over 500 total wins at OCHS, since taking over as the Warriors' head coach in 2001. His list of achievements include five state final teams, as well as the Girls' 2006 AAA state championship. Lady Titan Coach Candace Crenshaw was named Girls' Region Coach of the Year.

The future looks particularly bright for OCHS, who return all but Will McDonald from the region winning boys team, while the Lady Warriors essentially return all their starters for the 2014 season. Derek Hon will take over as the Warriors' Head Coach in 2014.

2013 8-AAA All-Region Tennis Team

FIRST TEAM BOYS:

Coach Dan Gruetter, OCHS, Boys' Region Coach of the Year

Peter Bertran, NOHS, Region Player of the Year

Will McDonald, OCHS,  #1 Singles

Drew Horsley, OCHS, #2 Singles

Wolfgang Busenitz, Morgan County, #3 Singles

Dan Madden & Hunter Pritchard, OCHS, #1 Doubles

Zach Miner & Chandler Shields, OCHS, #2 Doubles

SECOND TEAM BOYS:

Caleb Plumley, Morgan County, #1 Singles

Sam Cooper, Morgan County, #3 Singles

Mitchell Graves, OCHS, #3 Singles

Drew McHugh & Garrett Gardner, Morgan County, #1 Doubles

Kendric Hughes & Mitch Smith, NOHS, #2 Doubles

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FIRST TEAM GIRLS:

Candace Crenshaw, NOHS, Girls' Region Coach of the Year

Rebecca Bruning, NOHS, Region Player of the Year

Jordan England, OCHS, #1 Singles

Amber Hudson, NOHS, #2 Singles

Mary Campbell Cobb, NOHS, #3 Singles

Abby Bruning & Lana Livesay, NOHS, #1 Doubles

Megan Morris & Ivy Do, OCHS, #2 Doubles

SECOND TEAM GIRLS:

Chandler Henshaw, Franklin County, #1 Singles

Katy Kane, OCHS, #2 Singles

Sarah Freeman, Franklin County, #3 Singles

Lara Little & Harleigh Dove, Franklin County, #1 Doubles

Megan Reid & Cammi Shaffer, NOHS, #2 Doubles