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Marietta Daily Journal - All in a day’s work
All in a day’s work
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Published: 05/19/2008
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By Emily Horos
Marietta Daily Journal Sports Writer

"Pretty amazing."

That is how Walker girls tennis coach Jan Steffen describes what her team was a part of last week.

After all, it isn't every day that a team wins a state title, much less a school winning three state titles in two days.

In fewer than 24 hours, the girls' tennis team and boys and girls soccer teams all won state titles.

Steffan's squad got things started Friday evening when they defeated Wesleyan, 3-1, for the Class AA state title. The boys' soccer team followed with a, 3-1, victory that night over Dublin for the Class AA/A title. Finishing up the task, the girls' soccer team defeated Lovett in penalty kicks to win the Class AA/A title Saturday afternoon.

Walker athletic director and boys soccer coach Gary Blohm said the occurrence of three state titles in such a short amount of time is unprecedented at the school and perhaps even in the state.

"It is a real special feeling," Blohm said. "When we won our title that was coming on the heels of the girls tennis team, so it was kind of neat. We just won two state championships in one day. Then when I went to the girls' soccer game, it was a dream come true.

"I just look back and wonder what is the chance of that happening all within 24 hours? Very, very slim I think. The feeling is just amazing. It is natural high."

Steffen said that after her team won its title, they attended the boys' soccer match to cheer for their fellow Wolverines. The girls' soccer team was also on-hand dressed in white.

"Our match finished about 4 p.m. down in Clayton County and then the boys soccer team played that night," Steffan said. "At half-time they introduced the girls and they had the cup and everything and their championship T-shirts on. It was nice because not many people get to see them play."

Clad in black T-shirts, the boys soccer team then cheered for its female counterpart the following day.

Minutes after his team completed the title blitz, Brad Brown said one title would have been great for the school, but three was unimaginable.

"Of course we wanted to win, but so do all the teams," said Brown. "To win it like we did after the boys won theirs (Friday) really completes it."

At Walker, with an upper school enrollment of just 380 students, there are now 56 reigning state champions - if you include Helen Alvey, who won the state diving title. In other words, nearly 15 percent of the students are state champions.

"It looks pretty good when you say it that way," Blohm said. "So many of our kids participate in sports here are Walker because the opportunity is so good."

The tennis team has perhaps the best chance to repeat. Not only will they be dropping down to Class A next year, but Steffan said she will be replacing just one singles player.

"A lot of kids go through high school never winning a state title and here they have won two back-to-back," she said. "I think they are ready to win a third next year."

The boys' soccer team graduated 11 members, while the girls lost two players to graduation.

The Walker administration has considered several different ways to honor the three teams including banners, much like the ones currently heralding the school's 50th anniversary, or a ring presentation during a football game in the fall, but nothing has been announced.


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