PHOTO SUBMITTED Coaches and players from Brookhaven High pose together in Vicksburg on Monday after defeating Stone County 5-2 to capture the 2025 MHSAA 5A Tennis State Tournament. Team members include, front row, from left, Jenna Beth Townsend, Claire Sones, Ava Kate Bairfield, Anne Stewart, Caroline Kilpatrick, Lleyton Goza, Ella Thompson, Addy Foster, assistant coach Nancy Fisher, head coach Becky Green; back row, from left, assistant coach Devin Wallace, Bram Wolfe, Drew Sones, Crews Stewart, Cohen Leggett, Tyndale Boerner, John Sones, Isaac Iles, Will Simmons, and Ian Iles.

The goal is always state championships for Brookhaven High tennis.

On Monday in Vicksburg, the 2025 version of Ole Brook tennis added to the legacy of the sport at the school by winning the MHSAA 5A State Championship in the team competition. The Panthers are still in Vicksburg at press time, with players now competing in the individual portion of the tournament.

It was a sweet feeling for the fans, followers, and parents of Brookhaven High tennis to see the Panthers reach the elusive goal of winning it all. The last two years, BHS lost in third-set tiebreakers in the title deciding matches to Lafayette High.

Lafayette High was eliminated this year in the semifinals by Stone High at the same time that BHS was winning its semifinal matchup against Corinth High.

That set up a Brookhaven versus Stone final pairing. The Stone Tomcats were one of two teams to beat BHS during the regular season, which further ratcheted up the drama.

Brookhaven High ended up besting Stone High 5-2 in the championship match, but the score could have easily been flipped, as three of the courts went to a third-match tiebreaker.

All three were won by Panthers to clinch the title.

“They were determined to win this all year,” said BHS tennis coach Becky Green of her team. “Excitement, relief and pride in these kids and their dedication and determination are the feelings that come to mind when I think about this group.”

In the 5-2 win over Corinth to get to the finals, Ole Brook got wins in No. 1 girls’ doubles from senior Caroline Kilpatrick and freshman Annie Stewart, No. 2 girls’ doubles from freshmen Claire Sones and Lleyton Goza, No. 1 boys’ doubles from juniors Drew Sones and Crews Stewart, No. 2 boys’ doubles from sophomore Cohen Leggett and senior John Sones, and mixed doubles from junior Addy Foster and sophomore Isaac Iles.

The court taken by the Panthers in the championship included Kilpatrick, who is a Jones College tennis signee, in girls’ singles, Annie Stewart and freshman Jenna Beth Townsend in No. 1 girls’ doubles, Claire Sones and freshman Ava Kate Bairfield in No. 2 girls’ doubles, Foster and Iles in mixed doubles and Leggett and John Sones in No. 1 boys’ doubles.

Check the weekend edition of The Daily Leader for results from the state individual tournament for Brookhaven High.