Photo Contributed by Catherine Horne Seniors on the A.C. Flora girls' tennis team celebrate their final home match with another 6- 0 victory against Fairfield- Central. The graduating seniors (l- r) include Lauren Teague, Mary Catherine Horne, Mary Myers Walker, Frances Timmons, and Carey Mears. Together they have more than 20 years of experience on the team. With a resounding 6- 0 victory over Fairfield Central Tuesday, October 14, the A.C. Flora girls' tennis team moved closer to its fourth straight region championship.

Led by Caroline deLoach, last year's region player of the year, and seniors Lauren Teague, Mary Catherine Horne, Mary Myers Walker, Frances Timmons, and Carey Mears, the Falcons have compiled an 11- 1 overall record and an 8- 0 region record.

Teague and Walker have been members of the team since eighth grade. Along with deLoach, Teague has been an all- region and all- area player. Teague is also in the International Baccalaureate program at A.C. Flora along with Horne and Timmons. All five seniors are at or near the top of their class.

First year coach Johnny Woods says the Falcons need to win only one of their remaining matches to clinch the 2008 region title. He feels confident they should be able to do that and more. The remaining matches are at Chester, Thursday, Oct. 16, and at Lugoff- Elgin, Tuesday, Oct. 21. The Falcons beat Chester 6- 0 and Lugoff- Elgin 7- 0 earlier this year.

Woods is in his first year as the Falcon coach and says, "I've been blessed to have inherited a team with a bunch of great girls and great parents. They've made my first coaching experience a memorable one, especially having three sets of sisters as my top six players."

During the day, Woods is known as Deputy Woods. He works with the Richland County Sheriff's Department and is the school resource officer for A.C. Flora. That could explain his coaching style. He's brought a more aggressive and self- described "go get- em" attitude to the team. It seems to have served them well.

The state playoffs start October 30. With an experienced team, several stand- out players, and one of Richland County's finest at the helm, the Falcons should be a factor.