The young tennis players for the Cedartown Middle School tennis team are gaining experience and improving each time out, according to head coach Matt Bentley.

“We have a good group this year that are working hard at becoming good fundamental tennis players,” Bentley stated. “We have a lot of kids new to tennis this year and it is good to see the excitement that tennis is generating for the kids to come out for the team this year. All of the players are working hard and are showing great progress on the courts.”

On March 19 in the season opener, Cedartown was swept by Pepperell. Both the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs lost by the score of 4-1.

Tanner Mehrkens picked up the lone win for the Bulldogs, beating Mason Clemons at No. 1 singles 8-6.

Pepperell’s Brian Vincent downed DJ Conner at No. 2 singles 8-3 while Pepperell’s Alex Strickland beat Cade Alforo 8-0 at No. 3 singles.

Cedartown’s Jeremiah Jones and Justin Runyan lost to Austin Strickland and Chance Pasley 8-4 at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Tim Wyatt and Alex Strickland fell to Pepperell’s Trent Mull and Collin Todd 8-2.

For the Lady Bulldogs, Callie McDonald won at No. 1 singles over Callie Nash 8-5. Cedartown’s Holly Robinson fell to Allie Williams 8-3 at No. 2 singles and Cedartown’s Jodi Kelley was beat by Pepperell’s Grace Arrington at No. 3 singles 8-4.

In doubles play, the Lady Bulldogs No. 1 team of Kiersten Pace and Damea Hughes lost to Bethany Hancock and Ragan Ware 8-0. Chandler Johnson and Emma Thompson lost at No. 2 doubles to Pepperell’s Macy Wallace and Kansas Nunley 8-3.

On March 21, Cedartown was swept by Darlington. The Lady Bulldogs lost 3-2 while the Bulldogs suffered a 4-1 setback.

McDonald won at No. 1 singles over Darlington’s Shay Sullins 8-4 while Robinson picked up a win for the Lady Bulldogs at No. 2 singles, clipping Ishani Desai 9-7.

Kelley fell to Lady Tiger Caroline Thomas 8-0 at No. 3 singles while Johnson and Hughes lost at No. 1 doubles to Darlington’s Addie Holmes and Sarah Bailey 8-1. At No. 2 doubles, Cedartown’s Pace and Thomspon fell to Julia Holmes and Emily Webster 8-0.

The Bulldogs lone win against Darlington came at No. 1 singles were Mehrkens beat Will Crawford 8-5.

Conner lost at No. 2 singles to Darlington’s Carl Schriever 8-3 while Jones lost to Wes Andrews 8-0 at No. 3 singles.

Jones then teamed up with Strickland at No. 1 doubles and faced Darlington’s Lyons Nida and Ian Kinney, and lost 8-5.

At No. 2 doubles, Justin Runyan and Wyatt lost to Darlington’s Ethan Pender and Jack Fletcher 8-3.

On March 26, the Cedartown boys picked up a win while the Lady Bulldogs lost. The Bulldogs dominated the Coosa Eagles 4-1 while the Lady Bulldogs were swept 5-0.

For the boys, Mehrkens beat Coosa’s Jacob McLean at No. 1 singles 8-2 while Conner beat Coosa’s Zack Taylor at No. 2 singles 8-2. Jones kept the streak going at No. 3 singles, beating the Eagles Clay Joyce 8-2.

Strickland and Runyan were victorious at No. 1 doubles, winning 8-6. At No. 2 doubles, Andrew Whitfield and Wyatt lost to Coosa’s Duke Blackburn and Bryce Ray 8-2.

For the Lady Bulldogs, McDonald fell at No. 1 singles to Coosa’s Madison LaRue 8-3. Robinson lost to Julia Hall 8-4 at No. 2 singles and Kelley was beaten by Raven Ayer at No. 3 singles, 8-1.

Coosa kept the momentum going in doubles, as Cedartown’s Pace and Robinson lost to Jordan Mitchell and Sarah Beth Cates 8-1 at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2 doubles, Cedartown’s Thompson and Hughes lost to Ashlyn Silver and Hannah Silver 8-0.