For the third time in four years the Merrol Hyde Magnet School Lady Hawks are the Class A State Champions following a 4 to 1 win over Westview Lady Chargers. Coach Jason Bentley, the head coach for the soccer powerhouse knows he has a new program to contend with, the Westview Lady Chargers from Martin.
For the first time in school history, Westview played in the TSSAA State Championship match Saturday in Chattanooga. After shutting out Lakeland Prep on Wednesday and beating Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Thursday, Westview faced Merrol Hyde on Saturday for the Class A title.
The first 20 minutes saw both squads take advantages of defensive breakdowns but were unable to capitalize. It wasn’t until MHMS’s Macy Reeder found the back of the net in the 22nd minute for the first score of the match. Tournament MVP Jaylen Baxter scored the first of her two goals in the 26th minute and Reagan Hudson took advantage of a miscue in the 38th minute to take a 3-0 lead at the half.
Two minutes into the second half Baxter scored again, and it appeared the match was about to be blown open. However, two minutes later Westview Junior Hayden Markowski was able to collect a ball in front of the net to get Westview on the board, where they trailed 4-1.
The remaining 36 minutes would remain scoreless and Merrol Hyde captured their third title in four years.
Westview finishes the season 18-6-1 and the Class A State Runner-up.
Westview’s 2024 season was historic in many ways, most notably they were the first public school in West Tennessee (excluding Shelby County) to play in a girl’s state championship in the history of the TSSAA.
Despite the loss, the future remains bright as most of the team will be returning in 2025.
Senior’s Gryphon Rowland and Hayden Swaim played their final match for Westview on Saturday.
