The NC Warrior varsity tennis team traveled to Campbell High School on Thursday, April 15 where they faced off against the Spartans in the first round of the 2021 GHSA state tournament. The team of seven boys diligently prepared for this fateful day throughout the entirety of their season. With numerous practices, matches, and tournaments since the start of their season on February 1, the team felt prepared as they entered the first round of state.

After a hard-fought battle, the Warriors finished on top with a 3-1 win over Campbell. Junior Peyton Stack triumphed over his opponent, winning at the line 2 singles position with a 6-4 6-2 win. Stack leads the team with a positive outlook and never fails to help younger teammates refine their skills. Freshman Tyler Goldfine followed in Stack’s footsteps with a 6-1 6-2 win at line 3 singles. The underclassmen stepped on the court at the beginning of the season with a legacy to follow. His older brother, Will Goldfine, poured two years of time and dedication into NC’s esteemed tennis program. Over the course of the season, the freshman found success at both line 3 singles and line 1 doubles, bringing home victories at both spots. 

Senior Grayson Hines and junior Lorenzo Alarcon found themselves paired together at line 1 doubles for the majority of their season. The juxtaposition of their skills and determination alongside their strong chemistry allowed the duo to become a reliable pairing. Line 1 doubles ceased to disappoint their beloved team on Thursday, as they defeated their competition with an impressive 3-6 6-2 6-3 win.

“This year has provided many tough matches for Grayson and I, but we have this tenacious Warrior mentality that enables us to frequently come out on top. We love keeping the intensity up and contributing to the great ever-growing effort the team puts into these matches,” Alarcon said. 

State matches come to a conclusion as soon as one team collects 3 wins. After collecting wins at lines 2 and 3 singles and line 2 doubles, senior line 1 singles player, Ryan Tuchmann, came off the court amid his game with an unfinished score of 7-5 3-6 3-3. The talented player hopes to continue his tennis career next year in Milledgeville where he will attend Georgia College and State University.

The Warriors diligently prepare for the second round of state, as they anxiously await results from Monday night’s game pinning the Lowndes Vikings and Brookwood Broncos against each other. NC will travel to the winner’s home courts on Thursday afternoon and partake in a fight that will determine whether or not they advance to the third round of state.

The NC tennis team participated in GHSA’s 2019 state championship where they reached the state championship title match. After an unexpected end to last year’s season at the hands of COVID-19, the Warriors remain thankful and hopeful for another chance to compete in GHSA’s state championship. NC’s tennis program will only lose two seniors after graduation this May. The young team, with a majority of underclassmen, looks forward to next season regardless of how Thursday’s game plays out.

“It felt good to pull through and win for the team, being one of the youngest players on the team has shown me how hard my teammates work and helps me see the level of my game I want to reach next,” Goldfine said.