North tennis completes perfect season
Published 2:13 pm Tuesday, May 16, 2023
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After failing to win a conference championship for 16 years, North Davie’s boys tennis team became a juggernaut in 2023. The Wildcats went 9-0 in the regular season to claim their first title since 2006, and they climbed to an 11-0 finish in the conference tournament.
The closest margin of victory was 6-3 as North overpowered Ellis, South Davie, Canterbury, Redeemer, Summit and Forsyth County Day. There were two 6-3 margins, both times against Summit.
After receiving a first-round bye in the tournament, North romped 9-0 over South Davie in the semifinals, then took care of Canterbury, 7-2, in the final on May 4.
The Wildcats had a losing record in 2022, but with 10 returners, nine eighth graders, two seventh graders and one sixth grader, they dominated from wire to wire for second-year coach Morris Miller.
The Nos. 1-2 seeds all year in singles were eighth-grader Brady Carter and seventh-grader Riley Mallory, respectively. Colt Miller and Dylan Cassetta each racked up 10 singles wins, followed by Mallory with nine, Carter and Max Rappaport with seven apiece, Josh Baker and Hunter Stephens with five and Isaac Martinez with two.
The leaders in doubles wins were Carter (11), Mallory (11), Miller (nine), Baker (eight), Rappaport (three), Stephens (three) and Martinez (three).
The roster included Nick Smith, Richard Diaz, Grant Wollner and Ryan McPherson.