Winning has become the DNA of Courtland girls tennis over the past two seasons, a combined 41-2 record since the start of 2023 and a pair of deep state tournament playoff runs as well.
That culminated this season where the Cougars reached the Virginia High School League Class 4 state finals for the first time in school history on Thursday.
Unfortunately for Courtland, it was unable to take home a state championship trophy, falling to Broad Run, 5-2, in the final, but this season and this run was unforgettable for everyone involved.
“It was a tough task for our team, but they fought hard,” head coach Jimmie Williams said. “They didn’t give up. … Broad Run was the best team we played all year. They just had more depth than us.”
This season’s senior class was a strong four-player class, including three players, Meredith Stapleton, Adele Granger and Libby Snow, who each recorded 80 or more total wins with Courtland.
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Snow led the way with 90 career wins, but they were the backbone of this team and a big reason why Courtland played for a state title this season.
“These last two years have been some of the best years of coaching and to me, this team that I had this season was the best team I’ve ever coached,” Williams said. “I’m very proud of what we accomplished and the opportunity that we had to play for a state title.”
In losing so many key seniors for next season, those will be some incredibly tough shoes to fill.
Courtland has the firepower returning to do that, though, namely Allison Meyer, Drew Sherwood and Maddy Lawson, a sophomore and two juniors who are expected to be the key pieces for 2025.
The Cougars have set a standard for themselves, a team that can play and beat the best of the best in the state. From here, the only way is up and hopefully for Courtland, that coincides with a state title in the coming seasons.
“We’re always going to try and reload,” Williams said.
