The first days of spring were dawning in East Tennessee, in the late 1900s.  Let me paint a picture for you of a new tennis head coach, Tony Whaley.  He sat in the cafeteria during school lunch to recruit new players for a depleted Jefferson County High School Tennis team roster.  He found athletes with zero tennis experience from all walks of life, who had never played tennis before.  He harnessed their athletic abilities from other sports, and taught them the game of tennis over the next 3 seasons.

 

This was the 1999 Jefferson County Patriots Tennis Schedule.

 

Patriot tennis team dominates in whipping West Trojans, 8-1

BY RICHARD HAWORTH Standard Banner Sports Editor

The 1999 boy’s tennis season at Jefferson County High School is quickly becoming a year to remember. The Patriots, under first year head coach Tony Whaley, are off to one of their best starts ever.

The Patriots improved to 6-1 in the IMAC and overall Monday afternoon with an 8-1 thumping of arch rival Morristown West at the JCHS Tennis Courts.

Sophmore Brady Tarr continued his impressive play at the number one position posting a 6-1 win over Steven Johnson, senior David Price continued his impressive play at the number two position posting a 6-3 win over West’s  Rusty Foust.  Alan Moody earned a 6-3 victory over Steven Sedlack.

Jobe Leonard earned a 6-3 win over John Holmes.  Josh Nicholson was the only Patriot to fall in singles play as he dropped a tough 6-4 decision to Chris Hamlet in number six singles. Moody, Leonard and Nicholson are all sophomores.

“This was a great win for our young men,” Coach Whaley commented. “They were very consistent.”

 Sophmore Josh Breeden earned a 6-3 win over Justin Carter in number two singles.

“Our boys stepped up to the challenge today. They were very consistent.” the Patriot coach said. “Brady Tarr is hitting the ball real consistently at the number one position. Josh Breeden has reeled off eight straight wins and he is just a sophomore also.”

Whaley sees several factors contributing to the team’s success this year. “I think the purchase of a ball machine has been a big plus for our program,” the coach explained. “The machine is helping the players develop confidence in hitting the ball.

“We’re also doing a lot of team building activities. We’re doing some things to help the guys feel like they’re part of the team. They seem to be enjoying it.”

The Patriots return home today to take on Cocke County in the final regular season home matches at 3:30 p.m. The Patriots close out their regular season schedule Tuesday at Morristown West.

Holding a 5-1 advantage after the singles, the Patriots continued to work hard in doubles play. Tarr and Moody combined forces for a 6-4 win over West’s team of Johnson and Carter.

Breeden and Price toppled the Trojans’ Faust and Sedlack, 6-2.

Leonard combined with Chris Cole for a 6-4 win over West’s Holmes and Faust.

 

Jefferson County Patriots Tennis 1999 Season 7-3 finish

Despite fielding five players with no prior tennis experience, the team finished with a respectable 7-3 record.  Relying solely on their athleticism, five tennis novices achieved a 7-3 finish.  

 

Entering the 2000 season, the Jefferson County Patriots Tennis roster remained largely unchanged, so did their winning ways.

ROGERSVILLE – Jefferson County boys’ tennis team blasted Cherokee, 9-0, on Monday afternoon.

In individual matches, Brady Tarr (JC) defeated Ben Terry, 7-5; Josh Breeden (JC) defeated Jason Snyder, 6-1; Alan Moody (JC) defeated Eric Dyer, 6-1; Jobe Leonard (JC) defeated Daniel Doty, 6-0, Josh Nicholson (JC) defeated Steven Price, 6-2 and Jared Haney (JC) defeated Josh Gouther, 6-0.

In doubles’ matches, Tarr/Moody (JC) over Snyder/Dyer, 6-1; Breeden/Leonard (JC) over Glenn Trent/Jamie Gilliam, 6-0 and Haney/Jason Smith (JC) over Price/Gouther, 6-0.

“We’re playing very well as a team right now,” stated Jefferson County coach Tony Whaley. “I thought Brady, Jobe and Josh really had solid matches.”

The Lady Patriots’ lost to Cherokee, 6-3, as Meredith Morrill (JC) lost to Rebekah Williams, 6-7; Rebecca Haynes (JC) lost to Katie Lawson, 0-6; Crystal Byar (JC) lost to Cheryl Canipe, 1-6; DaNale Burnett (JC) lost to Jessica Lee, 5-7; Ashley Evans (JC) lost to Stephanie Gann, 1-6 and Tearsa Stanley (JC) won over Lori Bailey, 6-0.

In doubles’ matches, Morrill/Haynes (JC) defeated Lee/Lawson, 6-3; Kaci Simpson/Peggy Leonard (JC) lost to Wilson/Jesse Snyder, 5-7 and Stanley/Ashley Folden (JC) won over Julie Elkins/Erica Linkous, 6-3.

“Despite a tough loss, these girls have improved greatly since the start of the season,” said Whaley. “They’re playing well as a team and getting a lot of playing time.”

The 2000 season for the Jefferson County Patriots went even better.  They improved in their second season to 9-1.  Interestingly enough, their only loss came at the hand’s of Morristown West after a vehicle transporting 4 players broke down on the way to the match.  No bus was provided for transportation for the team to this match, so carpooling was common.  Under TSSAA and USTA rules, failure to show up to a match within 15 minutes of start time results in an automatic default of match.  So while the 2000 Jefferson County Patriots team was defeated by the rules that they played under, they were never defeated on the actual court with rackets, tennis balls, and strokes for the entire 2000 season.

 

TSSAA Rule III B regarding regular season and tournament play:

Default times shall be based on U.S.T.A rules. Failure to show up for a scheduled match within five minutes or less shall result in loss of toss plus one game. More than five minutes, but less than 10 minutes shall result in loss of toss plus two games. More than 10 minutes, but less than 15 minutes shall result in loss of toss plus three games. Failure to show up within 15 minutes or more shall result in default of match.

 

 

Now with 5 seniors the Jefferson County Patriots entered the 2001 season with plenty of confidence and IMAC tennis experience.

 

2001 saw the Jefferson County High School Patriots Tennis team continue their winning ways.  Their last defeat on the court was April 19th of 1999, nearly 2 years earlier.

JCHS netmen two wins away from 10-0 season

DANDRIDGE – The Jefferson County boys’ tennis team is two wins away from a perfect season after taking a pair of matches on Monday and Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, the Patriots dropped Cocke County, 6-3, as Brady Tarr (JC) lost to Adam Williams, 3-8; Josh Breeden (JC) beat David Buckner, 7-6; Alan Moody (JC) defeated Nathan Chambers, 8-4; Jobe Leonard (JC) won over Brad Walker, 9-7; Josh Nicholson (JC) dropped Matthew Lewis, 8-6; and Jared Haney (JC) beat Tim Rowe, 8-5.

In doubles’ play, Tarr/Moody (JC) lost to Williams/Buckner, 2-8; Breeden/Leonard (JC) won over Walker/Nathan Chambers, 8-6; and Sam Morgan/Jason Smith (JC) lost to Lewis/Adam Gagne, 5-8.

Jefferson County, on Tuesday afternoon, rolled to a 7-2 win over Morristown West as Tarr (JC) defeated John Holmes, 8-3; Breeden (JC) won over Rusty Foust, 8-5; Moody (JC) lost to Chris Hamlet, 5-8; Leonard (JC) defeated Andy Foust, 8-6; Nicholson (JC) dropped Justin Carter, 9-7; and Haney (JC) bested Tyson Keister, 8-3.

In doubles’ action, Breeden/Leonard (JC) dropped A. Foust/R. Foust, 8-6; Tarr/Moody (JC) won over Holmes/Hamlet, 6-2, and Morgan/Smith (JC) lost to Keister/Carter, 1-6.

The Lady Patriots fell to Cocke County, 2-7, as Rebecca Haynes (JC) lost to Ashley Thornton, 5-8; Meredith Morrill (JC) won over Kandus Rice, 8-2; DaNale Burnett (JC) lost to Alyssa Smith, 1-8; Crystal Byar (JC) lost to Kasi Styles, 2-8; Andrea Sellers (JC) lost to Emily Henry, 4-8; and Amy Denton (JC) lost to Sarah Burch, 3-8.

In doubles’ action, Morrill/Haynes (JC) won over Thornton/Smith, 8-3; Burnett/Aimee Sanders (JC) lost to Rice/Styles, 0-8, while the third doubles’ match was a default.

Against the Lady Trojans, Jefferson County fell, 2-7, as Haynes (JC) lost to Katie Noe, 1-8; Morrill (JC) lost to Jenny Noe, 2-8; Burnett (JC) lost to Jane Howell, 0-8; Byar (JC) won over Cassie Brownson, 8-6; Kaci Simpson (JC) lost to Stephanie Sedlack, 4-8; and Sellers (JC) over Julie Greene, 8-1.

The doubles’ matches saw Haynes/Morrill (JC) fall to K. Noe/Howell, 6-8; Burnett/Byar (JC) fall to J. Noe/Sedlack, 0-6; and Jamie Fox/Rebecca Avery (JC) fall to Brownson/Greene, 2-6.

 

Jefferson County Patriots 2001 Tennis Team got off to a 8-0 start led by a veteran senior group who learned the game under Tony Whaley.

Jefferson County finished the 2001 season undefeated.  The first and last team in Jefferson County and IMAC history to do so.

Josh Breeden and Jobe Leonard won the 2001 IMAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship for Doubles after going undefeated on the season.  The only Doubles team in Jefferson County and IMAC history to do so.

 

Text from the article:

JCHS netters use friendship, togetherness to net success

BY BRIAN TRENT Standard Banner Sports Editor

DANDRIDGE-For the past three seasons, the Jefferson County boys’ tennis team has progressively gotten better. From 7-3 in 1999, to 9-1 in 2000, to a perfect 10-0 in 2001, the Patriots have been successful due to many factors.

Two of those factors are that the five seniors on the squad have been playing together all three seasons, and that they all are close friends.

“It’s really a special feeling to be a part of an undefeated team,” noted senior Josh Nicholson. “Knowing that each time we take to the court, there’s someone on the other side that wants to knock you off.

“You have to be well-prepared and thinking one to two steps ahead of your opponent.”

Another one of those seniors, Alan Moody, feels like playing together for three seasons has helped the team become one of the best in East Tennessee.

“We’ve worked hard to get to this point,” said Moody. “All five of us knew coming in our sophomore season that we could become a quality team with hard work and determination.

“Another area of strength for this team is that each of us are athletes. We’ve all played other sports while in high school and that’s played a big role in our success as a team.”

For Jobe Leonard, being able to adapt to different situations in a moment’s notice is an area in which the team has had success.

“Earlier this season in a match against Morristown West, I broke a string in my racket just before we started,” explained Leonard. “I ended up having to use Coach Whaley’s racket.

“I fell behind 5-2 before rallying to win the match. It just took me a little while to get comfortable with the racket and believing in my abilities as a tennis player.”

Co-captain Josh Breeden knows that everyone involved with the JCHS tennis program has made contributions in keeping the record unblemished.

“Up and down the lineup, we go into each individual match thinking we can win,” Breeden commented. “If one of us happened to lose our match, we could always count on someone else picking up the slack.

“We know that the perfect season is a great accomplishment but it’s not the ultimate goal we have. We want to win the district tournament, advance to the regionals and then to the state tournament as a team.”

The fifth senior, co-captain Brady Tarr, knows that the Patriots give 100 percent of themselves each time they take to the courts.

“I try to live my life each day by Colossians 3:23,” said Tarr. “Which says, ‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men.’

“All you can do is go out there and give it all you have. Each member of this team has done that on a consistent basis all season long and our overall record shows that.”

In having coached these five seniors the past three seasons, Whaley has seen them grow from somewhat inexperienced players to seasoned veterans.

“One area that really stands out about this team is their patience on the court,” noted Whaley. “Where most players on other teams rush their shots and try to do things they’re not capable of doing, our guys play at a pace where they’re comfortable.

“These guys have worked hard, not only this season but in the three years they’ve played tennis. Their hard work and determination have resulted in plenty of wins in their playing days at Jefferson County.”

 

The 1999-2001 Jefferson County Patriots will long be remembered as the best Tennis Team in Jefferson County and IMAC history.  With 2 undefeated seasons on the court they were practically untouchable.  The most remarkable fact remains that no one on the the team had played tennis before the 1999 season.

Headline: A Coach’s Vision: Turning Novices into Champions

Introduction:

In 1999, Jefferson County High School’s tennis program was in dire straits. With a depleted roster and no experienced players, the team faced an uncertain future. That’s when Tony Whaley stepped in. A visionary coach with a unique approach, Whaley embarked on a mission to transform a group of athletic novices into skilled tennis players.

The Recruitment Process:

Whaley began by scouring the school for athletes with potential. He sought individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their prior experience with the sport. His criteria were simple: athleticism and a willingness to learn.

The Coaching Journey:

Over the next three seasons, Whaley patiently taught his new recruits the fundamentals of tennis. He harnessed their athletic abilities and molded them into a cohesive team. Despite their lack of experience, the Patriots quickly began to improve.

The 1999 Season:

In their inaugural season, the Patriots defied expectations, finishing with a respectable 7-3 record. The team’s success was a testament to Whaley’s coaching and the players’ dedication.

The 2000 Season:

The following year, the Patriots continued their upward trajectory, posting a 9-1 record. Their only loss came due to a transportation mishap, not on the court.

The 2001 Season: A Historic Achievement

By the 2001 season, the Patriots were a force to be reckoned with. Led by a group of experienced seniors, they went undefeated throughout the year. This historic achievement made them the first and only undefeated tennis team in Jefferson County and the Inter Mountain Athletic Conference.

Key Accomplishments:

• Undefeated Seasons: The Patriots achieved undefeated seasons, on the court, in both 2000 and 2001.
• IMAC Championships: Josh Breeden and Jobe Leonard won the IMAC Doubles Championship in 2001.  Going undefeated in regular season and tournament play.
• Legacy: The 1999-2001 Patriots will be remembered as one of the greatest tennis teams in Jefferson County history.

Conclusion:

Tony Whaley’s coaching had a profound impact on the Jefferson County High School tennis program. By identifying and developing raw talent, he transformed a struggling team into a powerhouse. The Patriots’ success story serves as a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a coach’s vision.