Excellence has become a standard for the Gentry High School tennis program, and the team is set to head to state for the fourth consecutive year.
“This tennis season is so unique,” said the team’s head coach, the Rev. Otha Campbell. “This is my fourth year as head coach of the Gentry High School tennis team. And we have been so fortunate that all four years, we have gone to state.”
The sustained success marks a historic stretch for the program, which Campbell said has reached new heights during his tenure.
This year is the Gentry High tennis program’s 50th year. The moment carries even deeper meaning for Campbell, who was part of the school’s original tennis program decades ago.
“We started tennis in 1976… And it’s so ironic, because it’s like a full-circle moment. Here I am now, the head coach of the tennis team in 2026,” he said.
Gentry’s rise has been fueled by standout performances and a culture of commitment.
In 2024, the Rams made a statement behind a dominant doubles team.
“The boys number one doubles team did not lose one match the whole season,” Campbell said.
That team — Vashun Turner and Tamaiyo Ansley — helped spark a new level of belief within the program.
Campbell recalled Turner’s confidence from the very beginning.
“He walked on the court and said, ‘Coach, I’m different,’” Campbell recalled.
The duo backed it up with relentless dedication.
“They dedicated themselves. I didn’t even have to work with them on the weekends. They were out by themselves hitting tennis ball, perfecting,” Campbell said.
In 2025, it was the duo of Curtis Miller and Adarian Gooden who led the team back to state.
This season, that winning standard has carried forward with a doubles pairing of Miller and Brayden Johnson.
The pair battled through district play, showing resilience under pressure.
“They lost the first set, and then they came back and won the second set and split it, and then they played the 10-point tiebreaker, and they won the 10-point tiebreaker,” Campbell said.
Their performance secured a return trip to the state tournament — continuing the program’s four-year streak.
Last season left unfinished business.
Gentry qualified for state, but circumstances prevented the team from competing at full strength.
That fueled the team’s motivation to return to state, especially for Miller.
“Curtis was so determined to get back to state,” Campbell said.
For Campbell, a longtime pastor, tennis is about shaping lives as much as it is about winning matches.
“You don’t get to state without being committed. You got to be committed,” he said. “This is a very, very dedicated group.”
He sees the sport as a tool for teaching discipline and character.
“All I want to do is promote it here,” he said.
With a roster of about nine to 10 players, the Rams continue to prepare for the upcoming state tournament, scheduled for later this month.
“We are going to continue to practice, because state is going to bring the best,” Campbell said.
No matter what happens at state, this year’s team has already cemented its place in school history.
“(Gentry) has never had teams go to state four years straight. This is historical,” Campbell said. “I’m extremely proud of them.”
Still, the goal remains clear.
“One of these days, we’re gonna get a state champion,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
And as Gentry continues its climb, the pride behind the program is unmistakable.
“I am so extremely proud of them,” Campbell said. “They have worked hard. ... I’m just really, really grateful.”
