NCHSAA SINGLES, DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS UP FOR GRABS THIS WEEKEND

CHAPEL HILL - Championships in singles and doubles in four different classifications will be up for grabs this weekend as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association holds its men’s tennis tournament championships at three different sites.

Semifinalists in both singles and doubles at the regional level qualify for the state championships.

The 4-A championships are scheduled for the Cone Kenfield Tennis Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, while the 3-A event will be held at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Tennis Center. Both the 1-A and the 2-A championships are set for the Cary Tennis Center.

Action will get underway on Friday morning with the opening round of play at 10 a.m. in all classifications. Two rounds will be played on Friday, with the semifinals Saturday morning and the championship matches on Saturday afternoon. Since the field is smaller for the 1-A tournament, the only Saturday match will be the championship Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Will Plyler of Raleigh Broughton will be seeking his fourth straight appearance in the state 4-A singles final, although he is still looking for his initial state title after three runner-up finishes. Andy Orban of Fayetteville Terry Sanford, the 2002 singles champ, is playing doubles this season and has qualified in that field with Kenny Warner.

In 3-A, last year’s singles runner-up, Dan Greenberg of East Chapel Hill, has advanced to the state round. Hickory has placed two singles and two doubles teams, including the 2003 3-A runner-up duo of Alex King and Jay Williams.

Chris Cloer of Brevard lost in last year’s 2-A singles final and returns seeking the state crown won last year by Shelby’s William Noblitt. The Greene Central doubles duo of Brent Darden and Andrew Hulbert, second place in 2003, has qualified again.

Defending state 1-A champ Shawn Kwatra of Durham School of the Arts and 2003 runner-up William John of Mount Airy could square off again in the final.

More tennis finals are scheduled for next week, as all four classes of the men’s dual team tennis championships will be May 29 at the Burlington Tennis Center.

1A EAST

Singles

Shawn Kwatra, Durham School of the Arts

William Daniel, Spring Creek

Wesley Lovelady, Rosewood

Alan Mobley, Bear Grass

Doubles

Cliff Wilson/Grey Wilson, Spring Creek

Matt Mitchell/Joey Churchwell, Rosewood

Ben Adams/James Newsome, Farmville Central

David Clarke/Wes Hare, Durham School of the Arts

1A WEST

Singles

William John, Mt. Airy

Drew Belton, Mt. Airy

Brandon Woolard, Jordan Matthews

Kyle Edwards, Albemarle

Doubles

Alex Woodward/Matthew Mariani, Elkin

Ian Wagoner/Nick Holcomb, Elkin

Luke McCann/David Murphy, East Wilkes

Andrew Gitt/Michael Rader, Mt. Airy

2A EAST

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