ROME — They are now the “Kings” and “Queens” of the Class AA hardcourts.
The top-seed Pierce County Lady Bears (24-1) won their first state tennis crown in their first-ever appearance, blanking sixth-seed defending champion Appling County (17-3) 3-0 here Wednesday, May 13 at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.
PCHS won the March 17 regular season match against its region counterpart 3-2 in Baxley.
The top-seed Bears (232) would follow repeating as state champions in a rematch against last year’s foe, third-seed Columbus (19-6), posting a 3-1 victory.
“Taking back over the program has been such a blessing,” said Kathy Bradley, who came out of retirement and assumed control from then head coach Matt Hickox, following his appointment as the new Brantley County football program’s head coach.
“Coach Hickox, Matt Lee, Robbie Metliss and Serena Harrison had them all so well trained and
Pierce County’s top-seed Lady Bears (top) and Bears (bottom) hold the 2026 GHSA championship trophies and sport their first-place medals after sweeping the Class AA state titles beating defending champion Appling County and Columbus respectively. Pictured for the Lady Bears are (l-r) interim head coach Kathy Bradley, Marlee Kate Wetherington, Riley Chambless, Mattie Lee, Addie Brown, Jasmine Sergent, Abby Higginson, Eva Horne, and Assistant Coaches Robbie Metliss and Matt Lee. Pictured for the Bears (l-r) are Lee, Metliss, Aaden Carlson, Colby Coates, Jeb Bradley, Grayson Rodgers, J.C. Nimmer, Thomas Lucas, Kellen Bradley and Coach Bradley.
locked in that it was a smooth transition and like it was meant to be,” she added. “The 2026 Senior class has raised the standard of PCHS tennis to great heights with the boy’s going back-to-back and the girls winning their first ever state championship!”
“The future looks bright with returning players like Colby Coates, Christian Thorne, Hutson Streat, Bryce Taylor, Marlee Kate Wetherington, Abby Higginson, Eva Horne and Riley Chambless.”
Pierce County became the 13th public school to sweep the titles since the team format began in 1995. LaGrange followed as the 14th school minutes later sweeping the Class AAA titles.
Private school tennis power Westminster notched a third consecutive sweep in Class 4A marking the 12th time the program had won both events.
PCHS was joined on the boys’ side in defending state titles by Brantley County (Class A DI), La-Grange, Westminster (sixth consecutive) and Greater Atlanta Christian (Private).
In the girls’ division, Telfair County (Class A DII), Westminster (third straight) and Milton all repeated.
No. 1 Lady Bears ......3 No. 6 Appling Co......0
Pierce County dominated in its three straightset wins with two coming in singles.
Region 3-AA Girls’ Player of the Year Marlee Kate Wetherington had no trouble at No. 1 singles winning easily 6-1, 6-0 over Braelyn Shelby. Mattie Lee posted a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 2 over Addie Towns. Jasmine Sergent was up one set and trailed in the second 6-4, 1-3 when the match was pulled.
The No. 2 doubles team of Addie Brown and Riley Chambless knocked off Tana Hall and Marlee Anderson 6-3, 6-0. The No. 1 tandem of Eva Horne and Abby Higginson were down a set and led in the second 6-7, 5-4 when their match was pulled against Emie Waldren and Ivy Beckworth.
The first set loss by Horne and Higginson was the only one the Lady Bears dropped in their five-match march to the title.
No. 1 Bears ..............3 No. 3 Columbus........1
Leading 2-1, PCHS’s winning point came when Aaden Carlson rallied for a three-set victory at No. 3 singles.
Jeb Bradley posted a 61, 6-3 victory over Jaiden Smith at No. 2 singles. Carlson, down a set, battled back to beat Aadi Dalsania 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. Region 3-AA Boys’ Player of the Year J.C. Nimmer fell 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 to Mac Dickinson.
The No. 1 doubles duo of Kellen Roberts and Colby Coates outlasted Johaan Dalsania and Jimmy Russell notching a 7-5, 64 victory. The No. 2 doubles duo of Greyson Rodgers and Thomas Lucas split the first two sets with William Brown and Rishi Thiruppathi and led in the third set 2-6, 64, 4-3 when the match was halted.
