Knoxville Catholic, currently ranked second nationally, took the early lead by winning two doubles matches for the doubles point. The teams of Maeve Thornton and Gigi Sompayrac, along with Lillian Murphy and Eleni Liakonis, both won their matches.
The Lady Irish then won at three singles positions to secure the title. Thornton, Sompayrac, and Murphy were all victorious in their singles matches. Knoxville Catholic last won back-to-back-to-back championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. They are firmly establishing a dynasty in Tennessee girls high school tennis.
“This team just continues to impress me with their dedication and teamwork,” said head coach Kalie Bearfield. “Winning three in a row is a testament to the program we’ve built and the incredible athletes we have here at Knoxville Catholic.”
Baylor School, also located in Knoxville, held a 1-0 lead early in the season over the Lady Irish. However, Knoxville Catholic avenged the loss by beating Baylor 5-0 in the Division II East-West winners finals. The state title match came down to the two rival schools, with Knoxville Catholic again getting the last word.
The Lady Irish graduate four seniors this year but return much of their starting lineup for 2023. Bearfield has built Knoxville Catholic into a statewide powerhouse and sees next year as an opportunity to further cement their status as the premier girls tennis program in Tennessee.
