With another state championship in sight, Newton County tennis coach Pete Mazzella went home empty handed last week.
NCA, the defending boys and girls state champions, were in position to repeat as state champions but all of the five spots that advanced to state finals lost, leaving the NCA boys in third and the NCA girls in third.
“It’s hard to swallow but we had a lot of great things happen this year,” Mazzella said. “if we win two out of the three boys finals, we win the state championship. But we lost all three and finished third. We will be stronger next year.”
On the boys side, the Generals put two teams in the finals as Luke Alexander and Ethan McDill beat Greenville St. Joseph 6-0, 6-3 in the first round and then lost to Manchester 6-3, 6-2 in the finals at No. 1 boys doubles.
At No. 2 boys doubles, Jordan Mason and Micah Douglas beat Oak Hill 6-0, 7-6(3) in the semifinals before losing to Manchester 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the finals.
At No. 2 boys singles, NCA’s Patrick Williams beat No. 1 seed Manchester 6-3, 6-2 in the first round while losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the finals to Brookhaven.
In No. 1 boys singles, Tripp Blasingame lost to Manchester Academy 6-1, 6-0.
“For the boys, the day started off great with five events win Graham were unable to defending their state championship. Rose and Graham won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round but lost to Greenville St. Joseph 6-0, 6-3 in the finals.
At No. 1 girls singles, Tori Evans lost 6-2, 6-2 to Manchester in the semifinals.
“Both girls teams started out great,” Mazzella said. “Kayla and Anna won quickly in the semis and Piper and Marla won in Piper-and-Marla fashion in the semis with a three-set marathon. Our crowd was the best I have ever seen it at the Marla/ Piper semifinal match.
“We just could not get it done in the finals. Anna and Kayla fought hard but lost in a tiebreaker. Marla and Piper played hard against a really good No. 2 doubles team that featured four-time individual state champion, including two at the AAA level, Sara Hayek. I still don’t understand how a player of that caliber works her way to a No. 2 doubles spot but you have to play who they send out there.”
