Pike Liberal Arts School’s Amaia Vargas made it all the way to the Class 1A/2A/3A State Championship in Mobile this week before finishing state runner-up. 

Vargas is not only the first Pike student to make it to the State Tournament since the school moved to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), she’s also the first Pike athlete to make it the state championship match in tennis. 

Vargas opened up the tournament with a clean two-match sweep over Whitesburg Christian Academy’s Adeline McClellan in the first round, taking both sets 6-1. In the quarterfinals, Vargas swept Shoals Christian’s Mamie Bachofer, winning both sets 6-4. Vargas then swept her way through the semifinals, taking both sets against Lauderdale County’s Lizzie Tanner 6-0 and 6-1. 

In the 1A-3A State Championship, Vargas faced off against St. Luke’s Episcopal’s Ella Bentley. Bentley came into the tournament as a two-time defending state champion, considered one of the best tennis athletes in Alabama. Bentley took the state championship in two sets, winning 6-0 and 7-5. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of Amaia,” PLAS Coach Clay Lang said. “The heart and determination she’s shown throughout her career has been incredible, and this week she put it all on display. There were several moments when things got really tough, but she just continued to battle and never backed down.

“Reaching the state tournament was a tremendous accomplishment in itself, but to then fight her way to the championship match was truly special to watch. This marks a big step forward for our program; it’s something that’s never been done before here. Amaia has redefined the standard for tennis at Pike Lib, and this is something we can build on moving forward. She’s had an unbelievable career and will no doubt go down as one of the best to ever pick up a racquet at Pike Lib.”