BURLINGTON – Hickory’s Andrew Crone battled back to win the singles title in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A men’s tennis championships on Saturday at the Burlington Tennis Center.
Crone, the top seed, downed George Kernodle of Burlington Williams by 7-5, 6-1 in the final. Crone spurted to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, but Kernodle rallied to take a 5-4 advantage. However, Crone settled down to take the set and then dominated the second set to win the championship.
Kernodle, the second seed, was the 3-A singles runner-up a year ago.
Both singles finalists have had stellar high school careers, qualifying for the state event in each of their four years. Crone was part of a state doubles championship team as a freshman, but last year lost to Kernodle in the 3-A singles semifinals. Both Crone and Kernodle have earned regional titles in both singles and doubles.
The state doubles title went to the Jamestown Ragsdale pair of Trey Chatman and Ryan Kerr, who upended the top seeds from Asheville T.C. Roberson, Jacob Wright and Fabian Kaske. Chatham and Kerr scored a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in the championship match after both finalists had survived tough three-set matches in morning semifinals.
Wendy’s and the Carolinas Ford Dealers are the presenting sponsors for the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2006 STATE MEN’S 3-A TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Burlington Tennis Center, Burlington
Saturday’s Results
Singles-Semifinals
Andrew Crone (Hickory) def. Preston Spencer (Statesville) 7-5, 6-1; George Kernodle (Burlington Williams) def. Paul Bartholomy (Charlotte Catholic) 6-4,6-4.
Singles-Championship
Crone (Hickory) def. Kernodle (Williams) 7-5, 6-1.
Doubles—Semifinals
Jacob Wright-Fabian Kaske (Asheville T.C. Roberson) def. Thomas Fanjoy-Luke Gillis (Statesville) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Trey Chatman-Ryan Kerr (Jamestown Ragsdale) def. Tripp Johnson-Tyler Magerkurth (Hickory) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles-Championship
Chatman-Kerr (Ragsdale) def. Wright-Kaske (T.C. Roberson) 6-4, 6-4.
