Mount Airy girls tennis handles Chatham Central, earns second straight 1A dual team title
Mount Airy girls tennis needed only five matchups to claim its second straight N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A dual team state title, as it topped Chatham Central 5-0 on Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Complex.
For the second time in as many years, the top-seeded Granite Bears earned their championship against a foe from Chatham County. (Mount Airy defeated Chatham Charter in 2021). And just like last year, Mount Airy needed only the minimum number of matchups before the celebration ensued. The state title is Mount Airy's fifth as a program.
The victory capped off a 21-1 campaign for head coach Luke Graham's team. No. 2 seed Chatham Central, which was making its first appearance in a dual team championship, finished the year 17-4.
Mount Airy's Carrie Marion took home the tournament's most valuable player honors. She said this title was special because of the opportunity to send off her senior teammates, including her sister Audrey, on a high note.
"We're going to miss them a whole lot," Marion said. "But I just love the team, and I feel like we grew a lot this year."
Graham said that, in comparison with last year's title-winning campaign, this year felt more difficult, which in turn made the title even more rewarding.
"Everything that could have fell our way last year, it felt like it did," Graham said. "This year, our No. 6 from last year had broken her leg playing soccer. She was injured and didn't play the whole season. My No. 2, Ella (Brant), had shoulder issues all year she's been dealing with. We've had a lot of sickness throughout different stages of the year. It's felt a lot more difficult. I don't know record-wise if that sounds like the truth, but it really was."
2022 1A Girls Tennis Dual Team State Championship
Mount Airy (21-1) def. Chatham Central (17-4) 5-0
Singles Matches
#1 – Carrie Marion (MA) d. Olivia Brooks (CC) 6-2, 6-2
#2 – Ella Brant (MA) d. Ellie Phillips (CC) 6-0, 6-4
#3 – Kancie Tate (MA) d. Rachel Albright (CC) 6-4, 6-1
#4 – Audrey Marion (MA) led Jaylee Williams (CC) 6-4, DNF
#5 – Charlotte Hauser (MA) d. Lauren Caviness (CC) 6-0, 6-1
#6 – Audrey Brown (MA) d. Hallie Webster (CC) 6-2, 6-1
1A DT Championship MVP – Carrie Marion (MA)
Sportsmanship Awards – Olivia Brooks (CC) & Kancie Tate (MA)
