Walton's girls tennis team has a 133-match winning streak that began when Roberta Manheim took the coaching reins in 2004.

Not having experienced a loss in her seven-year tenure, Manheim just finished guiding the Lady Raiders to their their seventh consecutive Class AAAAA state title. And with her entire starting lineup intact for next season, they show no signs of slowing down.

According to one source, the Taylor County High School girls basketball team won 132 straight games from 1968-72, which means Walton would be the new record holder with its 133 straight wins. The National High School Federation's record book has Taylor County at 134 wins, and if that holds true, the Lady Raiders will have to win their first two matches next season to set the new record.

Just about every experienced team knows about Walton and wants to play spoiler. That puts the pressure on Manheim and future Walton teams to keep the streak alive for as long as possible.

"That's been the case for the last couple of seasons," said Manheim, the Marietta Daily Journal/Cobb County Girls Tennis Coach of the Year for the third straight season. "A lot of teams out there are coming out with the idea that they want to be the spoler. The girls that I have now have never lost and their focus is to continue the streak. I tell them naw that they have to focus on what's at hand instead of what has happened."

This season, Walton had some close calls. Centennial came close to pulling off the major upset, first in the regular season, and then in the state finals before the Lady Raiders persevered to clinch their seventh straight state title with a 3-2 win.

Stephanie Falcon at No. 3 singles and the No. 2 doubles team of Kayla Brady and Marissa Pulido both won in straight sets, but Walton was down a set in the remaining matches, which meant the Lady Raiders needed to rally in one of them. It was Amelia McIssac and Claire Marshall who stepped up at No. 1 doubles, coming back from a set down to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 for the clinching point.

"They had played a number of tournaments together and wanted to play together (this season)," Manheim said. "It ended up working out for us because they were the two that won state."

Against Peachtree Ridge in the state quarterfinals, Walton was evenly matched at singles and needed at least one win to survive. The Lady Raiders pulled out two singles matches en route to a 3-1 win.

When Walton's streak was endangered against Centennial during the regular season, the Lady Raiders had to alter their lineup, and it was Casey Mackintosh who came off the bench to win at No. 3 singles for the final point.

Having depth is something Manheim will never take for granted. The Lady Raiders have reserves who are ranked nationally.

"Our strength comes from the fact that we have depth, like Casey, who won that match for us during the regular season," Manheim said. "There is so much strength and so many talented players at Walton. It's great and it also makes it difficult. They do buy into the team concept and feel they can depend on each other."

Manheim can't control the turnover, but she has been efficient in finding the right starting lineups year after year. She knew that some of last year's doubles players were going to have to play singles and moved Maxie Weinberg and Falcon to No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, behind No. 1 Emily Zabor.

McIssac and Marshall's longtime chemsistry made it easy for Manheim to tab them as the No. 1 doubles team, while Brady and Pulido jelled at No. 2.