The North Carolina High School Athletic Association hosted the individual State Tennis Championships across four classifications at four different sites in both singles and doubles competitions over the weekend.
The 4A championships were held at Millbrook Exchange Park in Raleigh, with a pair of doubles teams from New Hanover High School in the event along with Hoggard’s Holland Baynard and Miles Hirchak.
Zach Taffer (Laney) and Patrick Senior (New Hanover) represented the area in singles play.
Each bracket consisted of the top 16 doubles teams and individuals based on regional qualifying. Following the conclusion of Friday’s competition, semifinals and finals action concluded the spring season on Saturday.
The New Hanover duo of Lucas McLatchy and Westley Gaines wore the black and orange at the 4A championship and pulled out a 7-5 victory in the decisive third set to grab a 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 first-round win over Mason Kolls and Henry Enochs (Page).
McLatchy and Gaines were eventually ousted in a three-set heart beaker 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 by Michael Ogundele & Rohan Chandrasekhar (Enloe) in round two during afternoon action on Friday.
Marshall Waren and Taylor Gaines were crowned 4A East Regional Doubles Champions last week, but the tandem dropped their opening round match 4-6, 4-6 against Aaron Pascua and Ethan Krager from Grimsley High School.
Baynard and Hirchak also fell in the first-round 6-0, 6-1 to Tristan Smith and Huntley Allen of R.J. Reynolds.
In singles play, Zach Taffer (Laney) suffered a straight set defeat to Kevin Huang of East Chapel Hill, who improved to 19-1 overall with his opening round victory.
Patrick Senior (New Hanover) was eliminated 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) by Elijah Gregory (Davie County) as the field of 16 dropped to eight heading to the afternoon session following first-round action.
After cruising to a 17-0 mark during the regular season as back-to-back Mideastern Conference Champions, the New Hanover Wildcats also dropped a 5-4 contest to Millbrook in the second round of 4A Dual Team Tennis Tournament this week, which concluded the tennis season for all teams and individuals in the area.
4A Individual Tennis Championship
Singles
First round: Kevin Huang (East Chapel Hill) def. Zack Taffer (Laney); Elijah Gregory (Davie County) def. Patrick Senior (New Hanover)
Doubles
First round: Lucas McLatchy/Westley Gaines (New Hanover) def. Mason Kolls/Henry Enochs (Page); Aaron Pascua/Ethan Krager (Grimsley) def. Marshall Waren/Taylor Gaines (New Hanover) 6-4, 6-4; Tristan Smith/Huntley Allen (R.J. Reynolds) def. Holland Baynard/Miles Hirchak (Hoggard)
Second round: Michael Ogundele & Rohan Chandrasekhar (Enloe) def. Lucas McLatchy/Westley Gaines (New Hanover) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
