Central ‘winners’ despite loss in 1A title match

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The Chatham Central girls tennis team saw its season come to an end Saturday in the 1A dual team state final against Mount Airy, but the 5-0 loss did not define the Bears’ season.

Long before the year began, Central set out to make it farther in the state playoffs than it did last season, when it lost to Chatham Charter in the third round of the 1A tournament. The Bears accomplished that goal, defeating the Knights in the third round this time and eventually advancing to the state finals.

“As far as this season, we might not have been the winner on Saturday, but we are winners for our goal that we set at the beginning of the year,” said head coach Heather Brooks.

The 2022 season wasn’t without its fair share of adversity. After starting the year 3-0, the Bears suffered back-to-back close losses to Seaforth and Chatham Charter. Rather than let the defeats zap their confidence, Central’s girls rallied around each other and won their next six matches, including a rematch with Charter on Sept. 13.

Last week marked the third meeting between the Bears and Knights this season. The match has to be split between Monday and Tuesday because of inclement weather, but the delay didn’t hamper Central, despite facing an early deficit.

“We came in that Tuesday after the rain delay and they knew what they needed to do,” Brooks said. “We were 4-2 down after singles, so they knew they had to win all three doubles matches, and they just went out there and gave it their all. They really wanted to make it to that east regional final.”

Central rallied to win all three doubles matches to win 5-4 and advance to the east regional finals, where the Bears defeated Voyager Academy before ultimately falling in the tournament final. The Bears finished the year with an overall record of 17-4 in dual team matches in 2022.

Chatham Central’s top individual performers this season were seniors Olivia Brooks and Ellie Phillips, who combined to go 31-5 in singles and 17-2 as a doubles team. Last weekend, Brooks and Phillips played some of their best tennis of their careers as they rallied to win the 1A doubles state tournament.

Olivia Brooks is the daughter of Central head coach Heather Brooks. Catching up with the News + Record after the season, the latter put into perspective what it has meant to coach the former throughout the last four years.

“It’s been such a joy to watch her and Ellie,” Heather Brooks said. “They’ve been friends forever, and Ellie’s mom is an assistant coach. They started playing together in eighth grade, and they said one day they were going to be state champions. And that’s what they did. To watch both of them grow as tennis players and as young adults has been amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

Central will have to figure out how to replace Brooks and Phillips — along with fellow senior Jaylee Williams — when they return to the court next fall.

Among those expected to contribute at the top of the lineup are three current juniors — Rachel Albright, Lauren Caviness and Hallie Webster. The Bears will also return fellow juniors Emma Townsend and Ashlyn Humphries, as well as current sophomore Carlee Callahan.

“I still think we’ll be pretty strong, but we’re not going to be as strong as we were this year,” Heather Brooks said.

Sports Editor Jeremy Vernon can be reached at jeremy@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @jbo_vernon.