AN ALL NEWTON-CONOVER DOUBLES FINAL IN NCHSAA 2-A MEN’S TENNIS; CAUDELL REPEATS

CARY– It was an all-Newton-Conover final in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A men’s tennis tournament championships at the Cary Tennis Center on Saturday.

Will Huggins and Hang Lak Choi, the West Regional champions, defeated Red Devil teammates Dillion Cervantez and Ryan Lampe 6-3, 6-2 in the state championship doubles match.

Cervantez and Lampe had gone to a third-set tiebreaker in their morning semifinal to advance, as the N-C team eventually prevailed over Ray Webb Parker and Ben Cheaney of Shelby, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5). Huggins and Choi eliminated Manan Desai and Nick Gardner of Hillsborough Cedar Ridge in straight sets in the other semi.

In singles action, defending champ Ethan Caudell of St. Pauls earned his second consecutive state title, defeating Jerry Newburg of Cedar Ridge in straight sets, 7-5 and 6-0.

Newburg, the number-two seed out of the Mideast Regional, had beaten East champion Jordan Bailey of Hampstead Topsail in a morning semifinal, 6-4, 6-3, after ousting Midwest Regional champ Steven Page of Salisbury on Friday.

Wendy’s is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2010 STATE 2-A MEN’S TENNIS TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Saturday’s Results, Cary Tennis Center

Singles–Semifinals

Jerry Newburg (Hillsborough Cedar Ridge) def. Jordan Bailey (Hampstead Topsail) 6-4, 6-3;

Ethan Caudell (St. Pauls) def. Gillberto Pannunzil (Franklinton) 6-1, 6-1.

Singles–Championship

Caudell (St. Pauls) def. Newburg (Cedar Ridge) 7-5, 6-0.

Doubles–Semifinals

Dillion Cervantez-Ryan Lampe (Newton-Conover) def. Ray Webb Parker-Ben Cheaney (Shelby) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5); Will Huggins-Hang Lak Choi (Newton-Conover) def. Manan Desai-Nick Gardner (Hillsborough Cedar Ridge) 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles–Championship

Huggins-Choi (Newton-Conover) def. Cervantez-Lampe (Newton-Conover) 6-3, 6-2.