RC Netmen Close Out Regular Season With 9-5 Mark
In the final week of the regular season, the Rockbridge County High School boys tennis split a pair of Shenandoah District matches, coming up short 5-4 against district leader Wilson Memorial on Monday of last week before cruising to a 9-0 win over Stuarts Draft on Thursday.
The Wildcats concluded the regular season with a record of 9-5, both overall and in the district.
With the victory over RC, Wilson Memorial improved to 11-1 overall and 10-0 in the district. The match was closer than the previous showdown between the two schools, when the Green Hornets won 7-2 on March 25 in Fishersville.
RC senior Jaxon Johnson was away on college visits during the March 25 contest, but he made a notable difference in the rematch, pulling through for a 9-8 (7-5 tiebreak) win at No. 2 singles. “That was big for him, “said RC head coach Scott Youngdahl. Johnson then teamed up with sophomore Joe Vargas to earn an 8-1 victory at No. 1 doubles.
Vargas also won 8-0 at No. 1 singles, and the Wildcats got their other win at No. 3 doubles, with sophomore Rachit Yakkanti and Elliott Allen teaming up for an 8-5 victory.
Youngdahl said the Wildcats had some other “battles that didn’t go our way. [The Green Hornets] are undefeated in our district for a reason.”
Before the match, the Wildcats honored their three seniors: Johnson, Dean Fafatas and Tyler Watson. Johnson has played tennis all four years. “He’s just a great kid, and he’s gonna do good things,” said Youngdahl.
Fafatas, who plays at No. 3 singles and joined the team this year, “is a great addition,” said Youngdahl. “He’s a really composed kid.”
Watson, who plays at No. 4 singles, joined the team as a junior. “He’s really worked on his game,” said Youngdahl.
The Wildcats had no trouble on Thursday in their 9-0 win at Stuarts Draft. RC had also beaten the Cougars 9-0 on April 6 in Lexington.
A highlight for Youngdahl was junior Brazilian exchange student Vinicius Fernandes stepping in and getting his first win of the season, 8-6 at No. 6 singles. At No. 3 doubles, Allen and sophomore Jacob Barney battled back from a 7-4 deficit to win 9-8 (9-7 tiebreak).
Vargas finished the regular season with a 13-1 record at No. 1 singles, and he’s part of the No. 1 doubles team that also boasts a 13-1 mark.
The Wildcats will now await their Region 3C tournament draw, scheduled to start the last week of May, and their singles and doubles playoff draws. For updates, visit www.thenewsgazette. com.
WM 5, RC 4
SINGLES–JoeVargas(RC) d. Drew Pumphrey (WM) 8-0; Jaxon Johson (RC) d. Maddox Perry (WM) 9-8 (7-5 tiebreak); Baylor Quick (WM) d. Dean Fafatas (RC) 8-5; Ben Carver (WM) d. Tyler Watson (RC) 8-2; Luke Layman-Wenger (WM) d. Rachit Yakkanti (RC) 8-2; Parker Eimers (WM) d. Elliott Allen (RC) 8-5.
DOUBLES – Vargas and Johnson (RC) d. Pumphrey and Quick (WM) 8-5; Perry and Carver (WM) d. Fafatas and Watson (RC) 8-2; Yakkanti and Allen (RC) d. Layman and Eimers (WM) 8-5.
RC 9, SD 0
SINGLES – Vargas (RC) d. Jessee Moran (SD) 8-0; Johnson (RC) d. Christian Huffman (SD) 8-0; Fafatas (RC) d. Ethan Mattox (SD) 8-3; Watson (RC) d. Quinn He (SD) 8-0; Yakkanti (RC) d. Colin Tubbs (SD) 8-3; Vinicius Fernandes (RC) d. Xan Libunao (SD) 8-6.
DOUBLES – Vargas and Johnson (RC) d. Moran and Mattox (SD) 8-2; Fafatas and Watson (RC) d. Huffman and He (SD) 8-2; Allen and Jacob Barney (RC) d. Tubbs and Libunao (SD) 9-8 (9-7 tiebreak).
ABOVE, RC senior Jaxon Johnson hustles for a forehand approach shot during his 9-8 (7-5 tiebreak win) against his Wilson Memorial opponent at No. 2 singles. AT LEFT, Wildcat senior Tyler Watson serves at No. 4 singles. (Jonathan Schwab photos)
