By Thomas Sellers Jr.
MURFREESBORO – Munford Head Tennis Coach Barry Bargery has never faced this dilemma before. The veteran Cougar Coach found himself running between two courts last Thursday at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro. At one court he tried to watch his senior Lady Cougar Lydia Jones take on the defending State champion Somer Henry from Brentwood in the Class 3A State Girls’ Singles Quarterfinal. Just a few feet away in the Class 3A State Boys’ Singles Quarterfinal was Bargery’s sophomore Jeffery Lee taking on Germantown’s Sai Mummareddy. “Lydia has persisted,” Bargery said. “She beat the girl from Hardin County who has been here twice. She just wore her out the last time she played her at Regions. I’m proud of her and she’s worked a lot on her own. She’s done great. “And Jeffrey over here, he’s a sophomore and he beat his teammate who made it here last year,” he added. “I look forward to seeing him back here again next year. But Munford has never had two up here before.” Both Jones and Lee earned their way to Murfreesboro winning in the Region 7-3A Tournament the previous week. Jones outlasted Hardin County’s Julia Mazanek 4-6, 7-5 and 6-0 to reach State. Lee beat his teammate and defending Region 7-3A champ Alex Berrios 6-4, 6-4. At State Lee had a solid showing against Mummareddy before going down 6-2, 6-0. Jones suffered a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Henry. Bargery said Jones wrapped up her Lady Cougar career in style reaching State and adding to the tradition started by player like Taylor Patterson and Maddison Willis. “She upped her game in the Regions to get here,” he recalled. “She did most of it on her own. We’ve practiced but she went out to perfect her serve. I think she’s going to Tennessee State next year as a walk-on and I hope to see a lot from her.” Bargery is expecting a lot from Lee the next two years in a Cougar uniform. “We’re in a new district next year, but I hope to show the district what we are made of,” he said. “He can win it all again next year.” While his player had a short stay at State, Bargery said the combination of Jones and Lee made Munford history in 2017.
“It’s a wonderful,” he concluded. “I’m afraid I couldn’t coach very much but if they needed me I was right here. A lot of coaches didn’t have that privilege and I’m glad I had it.”
