Tennessee DII-A State Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The TSSAA Division II-A state semifinals unfolded over the weekend, featuring matchups between Knoxville Webb (15-2) and Evangelical Christian School (9-7), and Ensworth (10-8) against Christ Presbyterian Academy (12-3). Knoxville Webb edged out Evangelical Christian School in a nail-biter, 9-8, while Christ Presbyterian Academy powered past Ensworth with a 11-5 win. The stage is now set for an exciting championship rematch between Christ Presbyterian Academy (CPA) and Knoxville Webb. Knoxville Webb aims to defend its state title after defeating CPA in last year's state championship game 14-5. Both teams have impressive prospects on both ends of the field, but their ability to remain poised and execute in the biggest game will determine who will hoist the trophy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's break down the key players to watch on both teams—prospects who could tip the scales in what promises to be a thrilling battle for the state crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["120929"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6824154558a0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baxter has continued to build on an impressive career resume during his junior season, compiling an astonishing 49 goals and 40 assists. Often the best athlete on the field, his sheer speed and relentless motor make him a threat from end line to end line. He projects as a SSDM at the next level as his athleticism, competitiveness and toughness are off the charts. As an Army commit, those attributes should marry well with the mindset expected at a service academy. Along with other talented offensive players on the Webb squad, Baxter will look to lead his team to another state title on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Hooker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Webb School of Knoxville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6824154558b01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The junior standout has had an impressive season, guiding the attack unit with 40 goals and 20 assists. A true quarterback, Bryce can attack you with either hand as a scorer or assist his teammates. A high-IQ player, he understands how the defense is moving and knows how to attack. Bryce is an explosive athlete with quick feet and a split dodge that would lose someone in a phone booth. As he's developed his left hand from his sophomore season to junior season, there aren't a lot of holes in Bryce's game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Adam Weston","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"130","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Webb School of Knoxville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"TNLX","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6824154558bb3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Along with the other junior standouts that litter Webb's roster, Adam has dominated the scoring column this season, scoring 57 goals and adding another 11 assists. Complimenting both Bryce Hooker and [player_tooltip player_id='120929' first='Baxter' last='Johnson']'s initiating ability, he serves as more of a finishing threat. The strong righty can bring it with heat and accuracy from the outside, but also finish in tight with defenders draped over him. Slightly undersized, Adam makes up for it with his elite quickness and unrelenting motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Parker Shanks","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Christ Presbyterian Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Sixers 2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6824154558cc4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After bursting onto the scene as a sophomore, Parker has continued his impressive trajectory, averaging 5.5 points per game as a junior. Parker appears much more confident this season, and the game seems to be slowing down for him. He moves past his defenders effortlessly with his fluid hips and speed. When he gets his left hand free, both on the run and with time and room, he brings it with power and pinpoint accuracy. He is the type of player you can cover with just one defender, the entire defenses game plan needs to revolve around him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"John Spears Wolters","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"147","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Christ Presbyterian Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Nashville Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6824154558d50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">John will look to build upon his spectacular junior season, where he won 73.4% of his faceoffs and added 2 goals and 5 assists from the faceoff X. With the aforementioned offensive threats from Webb, his ability to keep the ball out of Webb's hands will be pivotal in this matchup. As a dominant faceoff specialist, his ability to dictate the pace of the game and allow Christ Presbyterian Academy to play "make it, take it" will be a key factor in this matchup. As demonstrated by his 7 points this season, John is a threat to score in his own right which gives him the ability to provide a spark for his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->