The MAC2 Middle School Championships were a great end to the year for Sarasota Christian, as the team delivered a strong performance across the board in the single-elimination bracket play. Competing in singles positions 1 through 5 and both doubles positions, Sarasota Christian won all but one bracket, finishing with 65 total points. To put that margin in perspective, second-place St. Stephens finished with just 20 points, with the third- and fourth-place teams trailing even further behind. It was a strong showing from our team, who played with purpose and gave their all from start to finish.

Yet for all the success on display, it was a single match that captured the spirit of the entire day. The final match of the day—the No. 1 Doubles final—turned into the longest and most entertaining match of the tournament, drawing in players, parents, and coaches alike, as St. Stephens edged out a closely contested victory—our team's only loss of the championship. What spoke volumes was the way our players, Ella Daysh and Bea Glassmoyer, competed at their very best, with impressive rallies and shots, all the way until the final point. 

Throughout the tournament—and really throughout the entire season—the growth and character these young athletes demonstrated stood out most, as they encouraged teammates and competed with heart. It calls to mind Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." While the MAC2 championship went to Sarasota Christian this year, even more important are the life and biblical lessons these players learned and grew in this season—lessons that will stay with them far beyond this great season together.