The Putnam County boys' and girls' tennis teams both had their seasons end in the GHSA Class A Division I state tournament. Their campaigns featured postseason wins, competitive matchups, and an emotional farewell to a large and influential senior class.
The girls entered the tournament as the No. 9 seed and opened with a difficult first-round matchup against No. 24 Commerce. In a tightly contested match, Putnam County fell just short, losing 3-2 to end its playoff run earlier than hoped.
Despite the result, head coach Christian Keiser said the season carried a much deeper meaning than a single match.
“We wanted to win the region and make it to the second round — that was kind of the goal for the year,” Keiser said. “Just because that’s something we hadn’t done before.”
Beyond the results, Keiser reflected on the significance of the senior class that helped lay the program's foundation from its earliest stages. That group included Hannah Erickson, Vidhi Raiyani, Carolyn Thomas, Joelle Lukens, Addie Grace Usry, and Daniela Cruz-Perez.
“It’s very emotional,” Keiser said. “That’s kind of who I started the program with my first year. I didn’t even have the boys program at the time — it was just the girls. So, I’ve been with them since they were young.”
He described the ending as especially difficult because of how closely he has worked with that group over the years.
“I got a little teary-eyed at the region tournament,” Keiser said. “Not just because we fell short, but I was just reiterating how good those girls have been and everything they’ve accomplished. It’s bigger than tennis with them.”
Keiser also pointed to the program's consistency over the last several seasons.
“We’ve probably put together around 40-plus match wins as a program over the last four years,” he said. “That’s complete matches, not just individual wins. I’m super proud of them. They’ve set the standard for the girls coming up.”
On the boys’ side, Putnam County entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed and opened with a dominant 5-0 win over No. 29 Washington County. The victory showcased the depth and confidence the team had built throughout the season.
However, the boys ran into a tough second-round matchup, falling 5-0 to No. 13 Banks County, ending their run.
Still, Keiser again said again he felt the season met the goals set at the beginning of the year.
“I feel like we accomplished all our goals together. The region championship and making it to the second round, that was the expectation,” he said. “We got there.”
The boys will graduate seniors Leland Erickson, Carlos Jimenez, and Juan Patino, but Keiser emphasized the foundation for continued success is now in place.
“I’ve got a couple of guys coming back that have been part of the success,” he said. “They’re going to help breed good things for next year.”
He also noted a growing interest in the program across campus.
“We made a lot of noise around the school this year,” Keiser said. “People are starting to notice tennis. Now it feels like instead of me recruiting, there’s a buzz. Guys want to come be a part of it.”
For Keiser, both teams’ seasons were defined by growth, effort, and legacy.
“These seniors are leaving it in a better spot than they found it,” he said. “And that’s really what you want as a program.”