After a midseason loss to Manchester, Newton County Academy tennis coach Pete Mazzella shuffled his lineup as the team headed to postseason play.
Mazzella’s plan almost worked.
The NCA tennis team had teams in seven of the nine positions but came away with only one individual state championship, a repeat performance by Micah Douglas at No. 2 boys’ singles.
Both boys and girls’ teams finished second as Mazzella’s hopes for another state championship came up just short.
“I’m really proud of how all 11 players fought,” Mazzella said. “They represented NCA well with effort and sponsorship. We were bummed at the end because we were so close to winning team titles, but we will look back at this as a great season.”
Douglas took home the only individual championship for the Generals as he beat Manchester 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals. He then took the championship match as he won a first-set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-2) and won the match when his opponent from Greenville St. Joseph was forced to withdraw after an injury.
“Super proud of Micah,” Mazzella said. “He pulled off his second state title at No. 2 singles. Both matches were tough, but Micah was the best player in both matches and that showed in the end. I’m really happy for Micah, he had an up-and-down season but never gave up and came out ahead in the end. Micah is such a good kid on and off the court.”
In girls’ doubles, both teams finished as runners-up. At the No. 1 spot, Anna Moore and Marla Graham cruised in their first-round match as they beat Greenville St. Joseph 6-2, 6-0. In the finals, Moore and Graham won the first set 6-1 but dropped the second set 6-2 and then lost a heartbreaker in the third set, falling 7-6 (9-7).
At No. 2 girls’ doubles, Belle and Lilly Hollingsworth beat 6-2, 6-0 against Greenville St. Joseph and then lost 6-4, 7-5 to Manchester in the finals.
At No. 2 girls’ singles, Piper Rose also made the finals as she beat Grenville St. Joseph 6-0, 6-0 in the semifinals. Rose fell to Manchester 6-4, 6-2 in the finals.
“Marla and Anna played their best match of the year but came up just short, playing three full sets before falling just short 9-7 in the third-set breaker,” Mazzella said. “Belle and Lilly came really close to winning a title as eighth and ninth graders, can’t say enough great things about this pair. I think our future is bright with our younger players.”
In boys’ doubles, Patrick Williams and Ethan McDill won their first-round match in three sets, beating Oak Hill 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the finals. They lost to Manchester 6-3, 6-1 in the finals. At No. 2 boys’ doubles, Eli Finnegan and Jordan Mason beat Oak Hill 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals before losing 6-3, 6-4 to Manchester in the finals.
In boys’ singles, Luke Alexander needed three sets to win his semifinal match, beating Oak Hill 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) to advance to the final, where he lost to Manchester 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.
“Our boys struggled all day, all three pulling out tight matches in the semis,” Mazzella said. “Our boys doubles teams just couldn’t get it done in the finals, but I was pleased with their fight. Luke played a great final against a very good player, but the Manchester player just took his game to another level. Manchester’s coach said that the last two sets of the finals were the best he had ever played. In the end, you just have to give Manchester credit. They pulled out the close ones.”
