RC NetmenWinAt Rocktown
In its final match of the regular season, the Rockbridge County High School boys tennis team earned a 7-2 road win over Valley District rival Rocktown last Wednesday evening in Harrisonburg.
Enduring several lightning delays, the Wildcats (12-4 overall, 9-3 district) won two of three doubles matches and five of six singles contests. With the victory, RC completed a sweep of the season series with Rocktown. When the teams met on April 25 in Lexington, RC won 6-0.
RC head coach Scott Youngdahl said his team played “pretty solid tennis” in the rematch. “I was glad to see it.”
A highlight for the Wildcats was at No. 6 singles, where RC senior Sam Ballstaedt won 8-1 for his first victory at No. 6.
Other RC singles winners were Nic Vargas at No. 1, Nic Faulds at No. 1, Gardner Clement at No. 3 and Joe Vargas at No. 4. Youndahl praised Faulds for cruising two 8-0 wins, at No. 2 singles and teaming up with Nic Vargas at No. 1 doubles.
The Wildcats were missing Jaxon Johnson at No. 5 singles, but freshman exchange student Rachit Yakkanti subbed in and had a solid effort in an 8-3 loss.
RC’s Nic Vargas, who went 11-1 in the district during the regular season at No. 1 singles, splitting matches with Spotswood’s Nate Lees, was scheduled to play in the Valley District singles tournament on Monday at East Rockingham High School in Elkton. He and Faulds, who went 11-1 in district matches at No. 1 doubles, splitting matches with Spotswood’s No. 1 doubles team, were slated to play in the doubles tournament yesterday, also at East Rockingham.
As a team, the Wildcats will advance to the Region 3C tournament, scheduled for next week. For results from the district singles tournament, as well as the Region 3C tournament schedule, visit www.thenews- gazette.com.
RC 7, Rocktown 2
SINGLES – Nic Vargas (RC) d. Brady Beshoar (R) 8-5; Nic Faulds (RC) d. Henry Brown (R) 8-0; Gardner Clement (RC) d. Randell Joen (R) 8-1; Joe Vargas (RC) d. Lucas Maynard (R) 8-1;. Cole Johnson (R) d. Rachit Yakkanti (RC) 8-3; Sam Ballstaedt (RC) d. Sammy Abebe (R) 8-1. DOUBLES – N. Vargas and Faulds (RC) d. Beshoar and Joven (R) 8-0; Clement and J. Vargas (RC) d. Maynard and Johnson (R) 8-2; Brown and Abebe (R) d. Ballstaedt and Elliott Allen (RC) 8-6.
