Union Pines' Wanko is singles champ; Chapel Hill pair takes 3-A doubles
November 1, 2009 By Charles Alston of North Carolina
GREENSBORO -- Neena Wanko of Cameron Union Pines made sure that the third time was the charm for her.
Wanko won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A women's tennis singles championship on Saturday at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center in her third trip to the state tournament in her four-year career.
The 2008 3-A singles runner-up, Wanko rolled past Asheville sophomore Mackenzie LaSure in the final by 6-1, 6-0, after battling past Belmont South Point's Taylor Baird in a three-setter in the semifinal earlier in the day.
LaSure had defeated Mary-Katherine Prince of Wilson Fike in the semifinals. Prince was making her fourth straight appearance in the state tournament but had been ousted in the quarterfinals the previous three years.
In doubles action, the Chapel Hill team of Tori Helpingstine and Hannah Kimbrough swept past Rocky Mount's Lindsay Thomas and Kate Gray 6-1, 6-2, to win the state crown.
Friday's action was played at the Burlington Tennis Center but rain Saturday morning forced play to move inside.
Wendy's is the presenting sponsor of the NCHSAA sports program.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
2009 STATE 3-A WOMEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center, Greensboro
Saturday's Results
Singles--Semifinals
Mackensie LaSure (Asheville) def. Mary-Katherine Prince (Wilson Fike) 6-1, 6-2;
Neena Wanko (Cameron Union Pines) def. Taylor Baird (Belmont South Point) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.
Singles--Championship
Wanko (Union Pines) def. LaSure (Asheville) 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles--Semifinals
Lindsay Thomas-Kate Gray (Rocky Mount) def. Caroline Kernodle-Helen Powell (Burlington Williams) 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-2;
Tori Helpingstine-Hannah Kimbrough (Chapel Hill) def. Alix Thodossiou-Taylor Thodossiou (Asheville) 6-2, 6-0.
Doubles--Championship
Helpingstine-Kimbrough (Chapel Hill) def. Thomas-Gray (Rocky Mount) 6-1, 6-2. |
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