The Putnam County girls tennis team turned in a strong performance at the Region 4-Class A Division I tournament earlier this week, finishing as the runner-up and positioning itself well for the upcoming state playoffs.
The Lady War Eagles entered as the No. 2 seed and opened the tournament with a win over Social Circle before falling to Lamar County in the championship round. They finished the regular season with a 10-3 record.
“I’m so proud of the girls—they don’t need to hang their heads low,” Putnam County head coach Christian Keiser said.
The Lady War Eagles handled business quickly in the opening round, defeating Social Circle 3-0 to advance to the championship match.
The efficient win allowed Putnam County to turn its full attention to Lamar County, the defending region champion.
“We knew Lamar was going to be tough,” Keiser said. “They won it last year, and their singles are really strong.”
Putnam County got off to a fast start in the finals behind its No. 1 doubles team of Addie Grace Usry and Joelle Lukens, who were the first to finish and secured an early point.
The duo remained undefeated in region play and the region tournament, earning first-team All-Region honors.
“My doubles, Addie Grace and Joelle, won really quickly,” Keiser said. “They were the first to finish, so we took the 1-0 lead fast. I just can’t congratulate them enough—I’m super proud of them.”
Despite the early momentum, the Lady War Eagles were edged by the Lady Trojans 3-1 in a tightly contested singles match, allowing Lamar to claim the team title.
“The singles matches were really tight,” Keiser said. “We just lost a close one, but I’m super proud of how they competed.”
Individually, Vidhi Raiyani earned first-team All-Region honors for her performances in singles, highlighting the team’s depth and consistency throughout the season.
No. 1 and No. 3 singles players Hannah Erickson and Carolyn Thomas turned in strong performances, while the No. 2 doubles team of Daniela Cruz-Perez and Yashvi Patel also played well.
Looking ahead, Putnam County is expected to be able to host a first-round state playoff match.
“I think we should be hosting,” Keiser said. “We should be around a top 15 seed, so we should get a home match. The girls have a little more experience in the postseason than the boys, so I think that will bode well.”
With a mix of experience and proven success, the Lady War Eagles enter the postseason with confidence and momentum.
“We haven’t had this kind of success since these seniors were sophomores,” Keiser said. “I’m just super proud of them and excited for our next opportunity.”