Serving Scott County for
More Than 104 Years!


Gate City High School senior Tara Sheets toppled
a state record Thursday afternoon she crushed the
competition in Group A girls singles championship.
Sheets, who has committed to play Division 1 tennis
at East Tennessee State University, claimed her
sixth state tennis title as she earned the 2007 girls
singles title.

Sheets Breaks Record at Spring Jubilee

Jason McCarty
Sports Editor

Gate City senior Tara Sheets captured her third consecutive VHSL Group A girls singles tennis title at Radford University on Thursday with a smashing 6-0, 6-0 victory over John Battle’s Emerald Lauzon.

Sheets finished her high school career with a record of 133-1. Her only loss was to Radford’s Ashton Downs three years ago in the finals. With the victory, Sheets became the all-time leading individual title holder in the VHSL (A, AA, and AAA). She has three doubles titles and three singles titles for a total of six individual titles. At the beginning of the day, Sheets was tied with Caroline Downs with five titles.

“I didn’t even know about the record,” claimed Sheets. “Apparently my dad knew about it, but he didn’t tell me. I guess he didn’t want to jinx me.”

Sheets will be vying for her seventh title this weekend when she pairs up with fellow senior Kaitlyn Musick for the doubles tournament. Sheets will also be playing in the No. 1 spot for the Lady Blue Devil tennis team during this weekend’s VHSL Group A team tournament. If Sheets and the Lady Devils come out victorious, she will finish her career at Gate City with 11 overall titles – seven individual titles and four team titles.

"I really don’t expect to go out there and blow opponents away," said Sheets after the championship match. "I think I was just a little more relaxed out there today."

“She wasn’t missing today, and she was on a roll,” said Lady Devil head coach Jennie Gardner. “She has gotten a lot stronger and more consistent this year.”

“I think my power was the difference today,” added Sheets.

Sheets used that power in the semifinals as well. She defeated Franklin’s Jennifer Sing 6-1, 6-0 during Thursday’s semifinal game.

Business Directory

Vacation Guide