MONTGOMERY — The Morgan Academy Senators’ boys and girls tennis teams had strong showings at the Alabama Independent School Association State Tennis Tournament at Huntingdon College on Thursday, bringing home a number of individual titles.

Baxter Stinson, tennis coach at Morgan Academy, said he’s proud of the performance at the tournament.

“I’m really proud of this group,” Stinson said. “They’ve proven to themselves that hard work pays off, and that’s really all I care about. It works in tennis and it works in life, too, so I hope they’re learning something they can take with them.”

The Morgan boys team finished tied for second place, while the girls team finished third overall.

The Senators had a number of players bring home individual titles, including junior Caroline Sherrer, who won state for the girls No. 1 singles for the second straight year.

Sherrer said it feels great to win after putting in so much hard work.

“It feels really good. I put in hard work all year round, not just the season, and I did a lot of traveling to Tuscaloosa to practice with a lot of different people,” Sherrer said. “A big thing about it is the mental aspect — getting ready for the match. Earlier, I felt unstable, but Donny (Ellis) really helped get my mind straight and Baxter (Stinson) is with us every day at practice. It feels good.”

For the boys, Morgan junior Conner Stephens won state in the boys No. 4 singles, while freshman Peyton Mathiews won state for the boys No. 5 singles.

Stephens said it’s a great feeling to be able to win this year, and he relied on patience to win his match.

“It feels amazing. I didn’t get to come last year, but this year I’ve been working really hard and I was lucky enough to get in the finals and win,” Stephens said. “I just kept the ball in play and didn’t force my shots.”

Mathiews is happy to have so much success in his first year.

“It feels good because of all the hard work we put into it, working everyday, every week,” Mathiews said. “I think I did pretty good for my first year. I’m only in the ninth grade, so I’m doing pretty good.”

Morgan’s girls also brought home a title in doubles, as Sherrer and junior Lizze Reeves won a hard-fought match in the girls No. 1 doubles.

Reeves said she was thrilled to capture a tough victory after a match that went three sets in the warm weather.

“It feels very good to win,” Reeves said. “That was a long match and it was really tiring, so I’m glad that we pulled through.”

Sherrer said teamwork was key in the doubles victory, and the friendship between her and Reeves helped.

“It’s definitely very important because knowing your partner helps,” Sherrer said. “We’ve (Sherrer and Reeves) known each other since about second grade, and we’re best friends, so that helps because we know each other and what we’re going to do. Communication is important, and we had to change some things up.”

Morgan also had players finish as runners-up in the boys singles, as McCain Levins finished second in the boys No. 2 singles, and Kyle Stewart finished second in the boys No. 3 singles.

Other Morgan players who participated in the state tournament on the first day (Wednesday) were Hain Beers, Sarah Reeves, Sophie Talton and Emily Sherrer.