Bishop England ends season on a high note, winning AAAA Tennis Title

Kristin Fleming Arnold and her husband Charlie had plenty to celebrate when they headed to Antigua over the weekend for their 10th wedding anniversary. 

 

But before they departed, Fleming Arnold had some unfinished business. She coaches the Bishop England High girls’ tennis team, and the Bishops had a date in the Class AAAA state championship vs. A.C. Flora High School at the Cayce Tennis Center on Nov. 16. 

 

The Bishops gave Fleming Arnold even more to celebrate as they logged a 5-1 victory: Bella Nava (W) 6-0, 6-1; Maggie Allen (L) 6-3, 7-5; Riley Young (W) 6-3, 6-0; Helena Finley (W) 6-1, 6-1; Elle Finley (W) 6-0, 6-2; and Audra Schaafsma and Bri Bird (W) 8-2. 

 

“Going into state, playing A.C. Flora was an unknown as we had never played them before,” Fleming Arnold said. “The girls were so determined and focused to bring home the state title. They all played their hearts out and came up big with a 5-1 win.”

 

It was the Bishops’ first state title since 2020 and its 26th overall. They had a remarkable string of 10 consecutive state titles beginning in 2011. 

 

After finishing second the past two years, the Bishops were motivated to reach the victor’s stand in their first year of competition in Class AAAA. 

 

“Finishing second was huge motivation for the girls,” Fleming Arnold said. “They knew we had the ability to get back to the state championship. 

 

“Going into the season, we were hesitant as we had a whole new group of teams to compete against,” Fleming Arnold said of the move to Class AAAA. “We had only played Hilton Head and Beaufort a few times, and that was years ago in our tennis tournament. The Hilton Head-Bluffton area is a great tennis area, so I knew we had to stay focused on this new challenge.” 

 

The Bishops’ march to yet another state title included familiar playoff foes: Beaufort, May River, Hilton Head, and South Aiken. 

 

“Beaufort, Hilton Head, and May River were also region matches, so playing them three times is a challenge,” Fleming Arnold said. 

 

“The team has great depth, so I was able to play multiple kids in every playoff match.” 

 

Philip Simmons volleyball

The Philip Simmons High School volleyball team had another successful season, reaching the Lower State championship for the fifth time in the program’s brief history. 

 

But the Iron Horses came up short in their bid to win the Class AA state title as North Central posted a 3-2 victory in the Lower State Championship. North Central went on to defeat Ninety Six High School and win the state championship. 

 

The Iron Horses finished with a school record of 41 victories and gained their 200th victory in the program’s brief but impressive history.