It was a plethora of state tennis action this past week and Chatham County proved its worth.
On Monday afternoon in Kernersville, the Chatham Central girls (19-3-1) shocked Bishop McGuinness 5-4 to advance into the fourth round and the NCHSAA 1A Dual Team Western Finals. Chatham Central will travel to Pine Lake Prep (13-0) on Wednesday, October 30 for a bid to go to the state championship. The Lady Bears were also the last true traditional 1A school in final eight.
Against Bishop McGuinness, the contest was tied at 4-all when the Chatham Central freshman doubles tandem of Elaine Phillips and Olivia Brooks outlasted Charlotte Lassiter and Caroline Gregory 8-6 at No. 3 to seal the thrilling win.
The Lady Bears picked up singles wins at No. 2 when Cameron Hughes downed Michelle Petrangeli 6-4, 6-4, at No. 4 when Mary Grace Murchison edged Izabelle Bermudez 6-4, 2-6 (10-6), and at No. 6 when Brooks rolled Gregory 6-1, 6-1.
Sophie Phillips and Murchison collected an 8-6 triumph at No. 2 doubles for the other Chatham Central victory.
The Villains close the season at 14-2.
Chatham Central had beaten Polk County 5-3 in the second round up in the western North Carolina mountains.
Also on Monday afternoon in Durham, Chatham Charter fell 5-1 to Research Triangle Park in third round action.
Rebecca Brookshire took a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles for the lone victory of the day for the Lady Knights, who close the season at 9-6 after suffering its third loss of the season to the Raptors.
Research Triangle Park (10-7) will take on powerful Franklin Academy (16-0) in the fourth round.
Chatham Charter had blasted East Carteret down on the North Carolina coast in the second round by a 9-0 count.
Rachel Brookshire took down Ahsley Harris 6-6(7-2), 6-2 at No. 1 singles to get the Knights rolling in that win before Emery Eldridge disposed of Jacy Morris 4-6, 6-0(10-2) at No. 2, Loreliei Byrd topped Allie Kittrel 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3, Ashlyn Hart bested Skylar Brummett 6-0, 6-2 at No. 4, Emily Stcher cruised past Harbour Early 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5, and Rebecca Brookshire outlasted Zoey Morris 6-3, 6-6(7-4) at No. 6.
In doubles, Chatham Charter continued to roll with Rachel Brookshire and Byrd pounding Harris and Kittrell 8-1 at No. 1, Eldridge and Rebecca Brookshire hammering Morris and Morris 8-1 at No. 2, and Holly Askins and Dana Szpunar routing Raegan Majors and Linden Campbell-Godfrey 8-2 at No. 3.
Up at the Burlington Tennis Center on Friday morning, Jordan-Matthews Avery Headen and Lindley Andrew kicked off NCHSAA 2A Individual State Play in doubles with an opening round clash against Megan Smith and Lindsay Ray from Forbush.
Despite a gritty effort, Headen and Lindley dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision to the Forbush tandem.
The Lady Jets pair are seniors and concluded an outstanding career for the blue and gold with the loss.
NCHSAA 2A Individuals Doubles Results
First Round – Friday, October 25, 2019 – Cary Tennis Park
Kristen Colie & McKinsey Harper (Greene Central) def. Ella Harris & Natalie Partain (Smoky Mountain) 6-1, 6-2
Marlie Stephenson & Chloe Bethea (Oak Grove) def. Nithya Sampath & Jennifer Ye (NCSSM) 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-5
Alexis Wolgemuth & Hannah Cummings (Fred T. Foard) def. Samantha Davis & Arial Pearce (North Johnston) 6-1, 6-0
Meredith Burton & Margaret Thurman (Salisbury) def. Rose Wang & Melissa Du (NCSSM) 6-0, 6-2
Chace Ogle & Jayce Gaither (Durham School of the Arts) def. Rachel Carter & Mamie Smith (Surry Central) 6-1, 6-0
Gracie Arrowood & Hannah Sherrill (Maiden) def. Grace Burrows & Katie Sink (Croatan) 6-1, 6-0
Megan Smith & Lindsay Ray (Forbush) def. Avery Headen & Lindley Andrew (Jordan-Matthews) 6-4, 6-2
Olivia Pursley & Anna Trace (Hendersonville) def. Lindsey Dickens & Alyssa Byrum (Bertie) 6-4, 6-2
Quarterfinals Round
Marlie Stephenson & Chloe Bethea (Oak Grove) def. Kristen Colie & McKinsey Harper (Greene Central) 6-3, 6-4
Alexis Wolgemuth & Hannah Cummings (Fred T. Foard) def. Meredith Burton & Margaret Thurman (Salisbury) 6-0, 6-0
Chace Ogle & Jayce Gaither (Durham School of the Arts) def. Gracie Arrowood & Hannah Sherrill (Maiden) 6-2, 6-2
Olivia Pursley & Anna Trace (Hendersonville) def. Megan Smith & Lindsay Ray (Forbush) 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
Semifinals Round – Saturday, October 26, 2019 – Cary Tennis Park
Alexis Wolgemuth & Hannah Cummings (Fred T. Foard) def. Marlie Stephenson & Chloe Bethea (Oak Grove) 6-2, 6-1
Olivia Pursley & Anna Trace (Hendersonville) def. Chace Ogle & Jayce Gaither (Durham School of the Arts) 7-5, 6-4
Championship Round
Alexis Wolgemuth & Hannah Cummings (Fred T. Foard) def. Olivia Pursley & Anna Trace (Hendersonville) 6-0, 6-3