With the postseason finally here, the Putnam County tennis program finds itself in a position it hasn’t often occupied before — one filled with both opportunity and expectation.
The boys enter the state playoffs as a No. 4 seed after winning their region, a significant accomplishment that has them positioned for a potential deep run.
Putnam County’s boys are set to host No. 29 seed Washington County in the opening round, a matchup head coach Christian Keiser is approaching with confidence, but not complacency.
“We’re in a real good position to move forward,” he said. “I’m expecting big things.”
While the War Eagles are dealing with a bit of adversity, including the loss of a doubles player due to a school trip, Keiser said he doesn’t expect it to slow his team down. He plans to rely on depth to fill the gap.
Putnam’s boys are familiar with Washington County from previous seasons, though Keiser noted their opponent’s program is on the rise.
“They’ve kind of turned it around,” he said. “They’re putting out a full team now, so it’ll be a good match.”
If the Putnam boys handle business in the first round, a secondround matchup with Banks County awaits.
“This is the first time in my career where I feel like we’ve really got a shot to go into that second round,” Keiser admitted.
On the girls side, the path forward may be even more competitive. The Lady War Eagles earned a No. 9 seed and will host No. 24 Commerce in what Keiser expects to be another tightly contested match.
On paper, there’s little separating the two teams. Both recorded 4-1 wins over Social Circle, and both have handled common opponents similarly throughout the season.
“It looks like a really good matchup and a really good showdown,” Keiser said. “That’s going to make for some good tennis.”
Despite the challenge, Keiser believes his girls are well prepared, having endured a season filled with close matches and steady progress.
“They’ve been through a lot of battles, and I think they’re ready for this opportunity,” he said.
Beyond this season alone, Keiser emphasized how proud he is of the program as a whole, and particularly the senior class on the girls’ team. Over their careers, the senior Lady War Eagles have compiled an impressive record, consistently winning while steadily improving each year.
However, one goal has remained just out of reach: advancing past the first round of the state playoffs.
“They’ve been so close,” Keiser said. “Every year we’ve gotten closer and closer. I’m really hoping this is the year we finally push through.”
For the boys, this season marks a major step forward. After a less competitive region slate in previous years, Putnam County flipped the script, capturing a region title and earning one of the top seeds in the state bracket.
“Being top four in the state, that’s a big achievement,” Keiser said. “But we can’t get complacent. We’ve got to finish the deal.”
With both teams hosting first-round matches and carrying momentum into the postseason, Putnam County has a chance to make a statement. And for Keiser, the message is simple: the opportunity is there; now it’s about taking advantage of it.
“And I think we can do it,” he said.