In 2016 the Pace Academy athletic programs made the jump to the 3A classification, up from 2A in previous years.  What this meant for Pace Tennis was competing on the same level as perennial powerhouses Westminster and Lovett.  I must admit that my original thought (shared by many other UTA coaches) was, “What is Pace thinking??”  Westminster and Lovett have been winning state championships for years, and they are always among the best teams in Georgia at any level!  Pace had always had some good players, but usually lacked the depth that the other top programs had.

In early May I got the answer to my question when Pace won both the boy’s and girl’s State Championships! Since we coach many of the kids on the Lovett team it was hard to choose sides. Just last year the Lovett Boys Team brought home the State Championship.  That being said, it was hard not to be happy for the Pace kids! Knowing that we played a part in a memory of a lifetime for these kids is what makes our jobs great!

Congratulations Knights and I was never happier to be proven wrong!