Anderson County duo battles at state tennis

May 20, 2026 by Ken Lay

A pair of Anderson County High School tennis players wrapped up their 2026 seasons on Tennessee’s biggest stage at the TSSAA Class A State Championships at Champions Club in Chattanooga.

Senior Reese Russell represented the Mavericks in the boys singles tournament and advanced to the state semifinals before his season came to an end.

Russell, a three-sport standout who also plays football and basketball for Anderson County, opened the tournament Thursday with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over Huntingdon’s Shawn Simpson in the quarterfinals.

His run ended later in the day with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to Hume-Fogg’s Elliot Parker in the semifinals.

Anderson County junior Stella Farrow represented the Lady Mavericks in the girls singles tournament. Making her first appearance at the state championships, she was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Murfreesboro Central Magnet’s Ci Ci Schultz, 6-1, 6-2.

ACHS coach Robert Byers said both players capped stellar seasons after winning district and region singles championships.

“I feel sad for both kids,” Byers said. “[Reese] was doing well with his ground strokes, but he had trouble with his serve in the second match. He served a little better in the second set.

“In his first match, he played all right. But in his second match, his serve just wasn’t quite as sharp.”

Russell was making his second consecutive appearance at the state tournament, while Farrow was competing on the state stage for the first time.

“I hate to say it, but I think the stage was a little overwhelming for her with this being her first time at state,” Byers said. “She tried to come back after she lost that first set.

“Both of them played hard and they really battled.”