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- Written by: Wayne NMN Giese
“This season we’ve grown a lot together,” Monzavifar said. “I think we both fit each other’s strengths. I might not have the biggest serve, but he has one. And then I might not have the best forehand, but he does. So we’re able to complement each other where he can take forehand side, I can take backhand side.”
And all of this – without a loss – in the Western Highlands 1A/2A Conference champion Dragons’ first year as a program? The season ended on a 16-1 roll.
“I think as a first-year program, it’s super exciting to even make it this deep in dual-team,” Monzavifar said. “But we’re here to win it.”
“They just pull together and help each other out,” NCSSM-Morganton coach Wayne Giese added. “They’re really good at coaching each other. They can see when one of their teammates is not doing something and they’ll help correct him. It’s just team, team, team.”
“At the end of the day, if my strokes break down first, I’m losing the point,” Monzavifar said. “I got pulled wide and I’d just slice it back to him over and over again. And the more I grind and make him hit, the more likely I am to win the point. That was the entire match.”
For Giese, 76, this playoff run has been extra special. It’s the longest one he’s led a team on as a head tennis coach spanning all five current county high school programs and dating back to the 1990s.
“This has been the highlight,” he said. “I’ve had to pay my dues I guess through the years and all, but this is the highlight. These guys are on a different level. Their dedication, their skill, it all comes together, and it’s great to watch. It’s a little nerve-racking in matches like this where you don’t know for sure what’s going to become of it. But we’re there. And we’re going to keep on going as long as we can.”
NCSSM-M also on May 10 had three athletes compete at the NCHSAA 1A individual state championships at Cary Tennis Park. It was the largest number of state qualifiers from any Burke County tennis program – joining the Lady Dragons’ three from this past fall – since at least 2009.
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- Written by: Sharon Surles
We are almost halfway through this tennis season and South Central High School remains undefeated in the Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference. We now have sole possession of first place and stand 6-0 in conference play.
The Falcons have managed not one, but two wins over county rival JH Rose High School, snapping a 10-year drought against the Rampants, while also handing them their first regular season loss(es) in 4 years!
The Falcons are led by freshman Shaw Akula, who has been able to hold down the 1 court all season long. So far the Falcons have defeated JH Rose 5-4, New Bern 8-1, DH Conley 8-1, Northside 9-0, Havelock 9-0, and Rose 5-4.
Next week is a big week for South Central, as they will play at Jacksonville in a double-header, New Bern, and DH Conley.
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- Written by: Sharon Surles
South Central Falcon tennis has gotten off to an exciting start this year. After losing 3 seniors and 1 junior to Smith and Stearns Tennis Academy last year, we have three dynamic freshmen stepping into our top 6 line up.
We have lost one non-conference match to Greene Central 5-4, without our number 1 player and Greene Central without their number 2 player, still giving a very competitive match. We are currently tied 2-2 with Rose in our first matchup of the year and had to postpone the match due to lighting issues at our school. We will continue this match on April 2nd at Rose High. Both teams are dynamic and bring a lot of talent onto the court.
We look forward to growing together this season on and off the courts, keep an eye out on Big Carolina South Central Tennis. Go Falcons!
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- Written by: Coach Jay James
Here's how the Quad County teams fared after four weeks of the season.
Wilson Fike - (7-0, 8-1) Defeated QCC opponent Wilson Hunt 9-0, defeated QCC opponent West Johnston 9-0, and suffered their first loss of the season in a 5-4 match with powerhouse Southeastern Homeschool of Wilmington! Fike is currently ranked #2 in the 3A East RPI, and #1 in the NCHSTCA state poll.
CB Aycock - (8-1, 8-1) Defeated QCC opponent Southern Wayne 9-0, defeated QCC opponent Wilson Hunt 9-0, and then defeated East Wake 9-0 starting a three-match winning streak. Aycock is ranked #7 in the 3A East RPI, and #7 in the state in the NCHSTCA poll.
West Johnston - (5-2, 7-2) The Wildcats defeated QCC & County rival South Johnston 5-4, lost to #1 ranked QCC opponent Wilson Fike 9-0, and finished the week out with a 7-2 win over Neuse Six 2A 2nd place Princeton Bulldogs.
South Johnston - (5-3, 5-4) Started the week with a hard fought 5-4 loss to QCC & County rival West Johnston, then rolled off an impressive 8-1 win over QCC opponent Wilson Hunt, followed by a 9-0 win over QCC conference opponent Smithfield Selma.
Wilson Hunt - (2-5, 2-5) The Hunt Warriors lost to QCC & County rival #1 ranked Wilson Fike 9-0, lost 8-1 to QCC opponent South Johnston, and finished the week with a 9-0 loss to #7 ranked QCC opponent CB Aycock.
Smithfield Selma - (2-6, 2-6) The Spartans defeated QCC opponent East Wake 9-0 then lost to QCC opponent South Johnston on the road 9-0.
Southern Wayne - (2-6, 2-6) The Saints lost to QCC opponent & #7 ranked CB Aycock 9-0 and then had a big win over QCC opponent East Wake 9-0.
East Wake - (0-8, 0-8) The Warriors suffered a 9-0 loss to QCC opponent Smithfield Selma, followed by a 9-0 loss to QCC opponent Southern Wayne, and ended the week with a 9-0 loss to QCC opponent and #7 ranked CB Aycock.
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- Written by: Coach Jay James
Here's how the Quad County teams fared after three weeks of the season.
Wilson Fike - (5-0, 6-0) Defeated QCC opponent East Wake 9-0, defeated QCC opponent Southern Wayne 9-0, and finally defeated #9 ranked CB Aycock in a competitive 6-3 match to remain the conference only undefeated team remaining. The team has won 53 singles & doubles matches and only lost a total of 6 singles & doubles matches so far this season!
CB Aycock - (5-1, 5-1) Defeated previously unbeaten and current NCHSAA #22 ranked West Johnston 9-0 in a much more competitive match than the score shows. The Golden Falcons then defeated Smithfield Selma 9-0 before suffering their first loss of the season in a hard fought 6-3 loss to #1 ranked Wilson Fike. CBA has won 44 singles and doubles matches on the year while only losing 9!
West Johnston - (4-1, 5-1) The current 22nd ranked Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season 9-0 in a competitive match to the then 4th ranked CB Aycock, bounced back to defeat county and conference opponent Smithfield Selma 7-2, and defeated 26th ranked Wilson Hunt in a great 5-4 match at home.
South Johnston - (3-2, 3-3) 26th ranked South Johnston defeated conference opponent Southern Wayne 9-0, defeated conference opponent East Wake 9-0, and lost to 4A Garner 2-7.
Wilson Hunt - (2-2, 2-2) The 28th ranked Warriors lost 5-4 to conference opponent West Johnston 5-4 in a great high school match!
Smithfield Selma - (1-5, 1-5) The Spartans defeated conference opponent Southern Wayne 9-0, lost to 22nd ranked West Johnston 7-2, and lost to 9th ranked CB Aycock 9-0.
Southern Wayne - (1-5, 1-5) The Saints lost to Smithfield Selma, 9-0, lost to 26th ranked South Johnston, 9-0, and lost to #1 ranked Wilson Fike 9-0.
East Wake - (0-5, 0-5) The Warriors suffered a 9-0 loss to #1 ranked Wilson Fike and lost to 26th ranked South Johnston, 9-0.