The DCHS tennis teams concluded the 2025 season last Thursday and Friday with their participation in the District 7-AA tournament in Cookeville. Both teams completed the season with winning records, as the Lady Tigers finished 9-7 and the Tigers going 13-4. The boys' team earned 2nd place out of eight teams, both in the district regular season as well as the team tournament.  The highlight of the team tournament was a 4-3 victory over district rival White County in the semifinal round last Tuesday, a match that lasted four hours.  Senior Luke Midgett led the Tigers with a victory in singles, as well as the clinching doubles victory with partner and fellow senior Jackson Mathis.  Senior Ian Barnes and Sophomore Ethan Brown earned singles victories to lead the Tigers.

The TSSAA tennis team tournament format includes five singles matches and two doubles matches for a total of seven points. The first team to earn four points or victories is declared the winner. The team tournament is also different for players as the singles matches consist of a best 2 out of 3 set formats, instead of the 8-game pro set format of the regular season. The Tigers led the Warriors 3-2 going into the doubles flight, highlighted by an exciting three-set marathon between Barnes and White County player John David Durfee. Barnes won the first set, survived a second set tiebreaker loss, and then roared back for the third set win. "With that match, it was really hot. Toward the end I was so tired with his fast serve, I tried to just get a racket on it and keep it deep," Barnes stated. DCHS head coach Brian Cadle praised Barnes and his clutch victory. "Ian and John David both showed great competitiveness, character, and effort during the match. I was so proud of Ian's calm composure in a match full of energy and emotion. His return of serve proved to be such a weapon against his opponent's hard first serve. This victory really set us up in a strong position to win the team match."

The Lady Tigers did not qualify this season for the team tournament, as they placed 5th in the district. While falling short of qualifying in the team tournament, Coach Cadle praised the girls for their substantial improvement this season. "I am so proud of this team and how the girls have improved since last season. We won six matches last year and almost reached ten wins this year. We are losing only one player from this year's roster and returning everyone else. I know this group of girls will make the off-season commitments during the summer and fall continue to improve even more."

This season is the final year for DCHS as a member of District 7-AA. The TSSAA has reclassified Tennessee high schools for a new three-year cycle, based off school enrollment, beginning in the fall.  Cookeville, Warren County, White County, Upperman, Cumberland County, Stone Memorial and Livingston will all be in different districts. The DCHS tennis team will now be in District 8-A, which features familiar but new district opponents Macon County, Watertown, and Cannon County. Murfreesboro Central Magnet has also joined the new district. Four of the district schools do not have tennis programs. "We typically play Macon, Watertown, and Cannon, so we are familiar with their programs. We have played Central Magnet in our middle school program and know they have a high-quality program. The district will be smaller but offers some new and competitive teams for the next few years. We look forward to the challenge and opportunity," Cadle stated.