By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Making it to the NCHSAA 6A West Women’s Tennis Championship final is one thing. Getting to the NCHSAA 6A State Championship match proved quite another for the Watauga High School women’s tennis team on Oct. 28 when they ran into Charlotte Catholic at the Deer Valley Athletic Center. The Cougars prevailed, 5-2, on the strength of their top singles players.
BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article (Click any image for larger view and Slide Show Mode)
After Charlotte Catholic’s No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles players vanquished their Pioneer counterparts in competitive, but relatively dominant fashion, the writing was on the wall: it would take a miracle for Watauga to rally in the lower singles and force the match to be decided in doubles play.
The Pioneers’ Kennedy Moore (No. 5) and Neave Tuberty (No. 6) did their part, Moore besting Catholic’s Anna Groccia, 7-5, 6-3, and Tuberty getting by CC’s Ariana Valenta, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3).
Miracle, maybe possible.
But as soon as Charlotte Catholic’s No. 1 (Ella Davis) and No. 3 (Madison McWilliams) singles players teamed up in doubles to take down Watauga’s No. 1 Addison Cohen and No. 3 Poppy Summey, 8-2, the match was over and the Cougars were declared the winners. They will now move on to the NCHSAA 6A State Championship in Burlington, on Friday, Oct. 31. As the 6A West champion, Charlotte Catholic will take on the winner of the 6A East championship match, East Chapel Hill or Terry Sanford HS (Fayetteville).
In the top singles matches, Catholic’s No. 1 Davis, a senior, defeated Watauga junior Addison Cohen, 6-2, 6-1.
CC’s senior No. 2 Carla Perezgrovas got the best of Watauga No. 2, senior Larson Berry, 6-2, 6-2.
At No. 3, the Cougars’ McWilliams, a junior, defeated Watauga’s Poppy Summey, 6-3, 6-2.
Charlotte Catholic freshman Avery Johnson only had a little trouble with Watauga No. 4, Abby Talton, winning 6-4, 6-0.
After the match, Charlotte head coach Jo Cabana described her team’s trip up the mountain as, “… it was a little rainy and cold but we made it, we got some action and we are super happy. With the win, it was a great trip.
“Watauga has a great, great tennis program,” Cabana added, “with strong players. It was a battle. We had a fight on our hands every single match. It really came down to the wire, to be hones.”
Watauga head coach Shay Casey acknowledged Charlotte Catholic’s singles strength, but also saw her team’s potential. That the lower singles matches pushed the match to the brink was not surprising.
“They were fighters, Charlotte Catholic. They definitely had a great game. They always have a strong program. We gave it our all and gave them a good challenge and we wish them well going forward,” said Casey. “We have had a deep roster this year. That (lower part of singles) was what got us through most of the year. I am so proud of them all. They were fighters for every point.
Under Casey, the Pioneers went undefeated in non-conference and league play. After receiving the No. 1 seed in the 6A West bracket and a first round bye, the Pioneers defeated A C Reynolds, 7-0, in Round 2; South Caldwell, 5-1, in Round 3; Northern Guilford, 6-3, in Round 4; before taking on Charlotte Catholic in the 6A West championship match.
SUMMARY SCORES
- CC – Ella Davis def. Addison Cohen, 6-2, 6-1
- CC – Carla Perezgrovas def. Larson Berry, 6-2, 6-2
- CC – Madison McWilliams def. Poppy Summey, 6-3, 6-2
- CC – Avery Johnson def. Abby Talton, 6-4, 6-0
- WAT – Kennedy Moore def. Anna Groccia, 7-5, 6-3
- WAT – Neave Tuberty def. Ariana Valenta, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-3)
- CC – Ella Davis and Madison McWilliams def. Addison Cohen and Poppy Summey, 8-2
BONUS PHOTOS
