Girls tennis claims state title

The Lady Spartans tennis team claimed the state title after an undefeated season, but not without fighting for it. 

“Huntsville had the lead heading into the last day of the [state] tournament, but on that day, we defeated them in every match except one,” coach Susan Farlow said. “That hardly ever happens.”

Mountain Brook High School girls finished with 64 points, just ahead of Huntsville (57) and Vestavia (56). This is their third title in the past four years and 10th since 2000.

The team was led by graduating seniors Carlee Petro, Mary Martha Grizzle and Olivia Howe. Petro, who will play for Birmingham-Southern College next year, finished as state champion in the first seed of singles play; she also won the No. 2 singles state championship as a freshman and sophomore. Howe won the state title at No. 3, and Lil Kilgore at No. 5. 

“We had a lot of senior leadership [this season],” Farlow said, “but some young ones will come up. It’s good for them to see what is involved to be able to win like that.”

At the state tournament, the boys tennis team placed second with 62 points behind Vestavia Hills’ 85. David Faulkner was the state champion in the No. 6 singles, and Ben Shearer was the state champion in the No. 3 singles — his second state championship for the year, as he was also a member of the MBHS varsity basketball team. Farlow noted how impressive it is for Shearer to play tennis so well without picking up his racquet between high school seasons.

“He walks on the tennis court, I put him in the middle of the lineup and it’s like he never left off,” she said.

In addition to Farlow, Wally Nall serves as the teams’ assistant coach.