BECK COLUMN: Wando may be poised to begin new streak

  • James Beck
  • Posted: Sunday, October 30, 2011 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Sunday, March 18, 2012 8:43 p.m.
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Wando may be ready to return to its perch atop Class AAAA girls tennis after faltering in last year’s state final.

But defending state champion Mauldin likely will be back as Wando attempts to start a new streak under a new coach, Tyler Davis.

The Warriors’ top two of junior Catherine Martin and freshman Melanie Allen may be too strong for West Florence in Tuesday’s 4 p.m. state quarterfinals at Wando. A victory would send the Warriors to Lexington or Beaufort for Thursday’s semifinals.

Davis feels good about the possibile matchups as a result of the Warriors’ 4-2 regular season win over Beaufort and the fact that Davis has coached most of the Mauldin players. “While I was living in Spartanburg and coaching at Presbyterian College, I coached everyone in Mauldin’s top six,” he said.

Mauldin snapped Wando’s streak of six straight state titles in last year’s final in Becky Williamson’s last match as the Warriors’ coach.

Under Davis, Wando’s only losses in 18 matches this season have been to SCISA state champion Porter-Gaud and SCISA power Ashley Hall.

After a challenging span at the crucial No. 2 doubles position, the Warriors have settled on junior Legare Passailaigue and senior Courtney Lopresti. Wando also has seniors at Nos. 3 and 4 in Alex Klein and Caroline Hairfield.

Bishops aim high Waccamaw has returned as Bishop England’s main nemesis by defeating the Bishops each of the last two years in the Class AA Lower State playoffs. Coach Kristin Fleming is hoping for better luck on Thursday if the teams meet again in the lower state final, this time on hard courts at LTP Tennis.

Bishop England (17-5) first faces Pelion in the state quarterfinals Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at LTP Tennis, while Waccamaw will be favored to defeat Aynor. Waccamaw has three of its top four back from last year’s state champions. With sophomore Liza Arruda and freshman Samantha Shuster leading the way, the Bishops’ only head-to-head setbacks have been a pair of 4-3 losses to Wando. “We have good depth 1-5 and at No. 2 doubles,” said coach Kristin Fleming.

Prep notes

-- Former All-Lowcountry star Addison King is back at Palmetto Christian after playing last spring for Wando.

-- Academic Magnet didn’t qualify for this fall’s Class AA state playoffs as the result of having to forfeit three matches due to an ineligible player.

-- Charleston Math and Science will play host to East Clarendon on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Class A state playoffs.

Six combo champs

Six local teams won state titles in last weekend’s league tennis state combo tournament at Family Circle Tennis Center. Neal Webb’s 7.5 adult men from St. Andrew’s led the way, while captain Su Mac-

Adam’s Legend Oaks 7.5 women, Pamela Ponte’s 6.5 Farmfield women and Karen Burton’s Daniel Island 5.5 women also took adult titles. Michael Viljac’s 8.5 senior men and Susan Peiffer’s 8.5 super senior women also won titles.

The local runners-up included Chuck Lee’s Whipple Road 8.5 adult men, Ann Harrah’s LTP Tennis 9.5 adult women, Genessa Donohue’s Maybank 7.5 adult women and Judi Fillinger’s Family Circle Tennis Center 7.5 super senior women.

Local notes

Monday is the entry deadline for the Nov. 9-13 Southern Senior Closed Clay Court Championships at Kiawah Island.

-- Summerville’s Thanksgiving Adult Doubles Grand Prix is Nov. 18-20 at the new Doty Park complex. Competition will be in NTRP men’s and women’s doubles and in mixed doubles. Register at summerville.sc.us. Contact Nancy Sumersett (270-1017 or nsumersett@gmail.com).

-- Today is the deadline for entering the seventh annual Racquets for Recovery “Taking a Hard Swing at Breast Cancer” Tennis Tournament scheduled for next weekend at Pine Forest Country Club. Contact Shirley Hunter (racquets2011@gmail.com, shhunter@bellsouth.net or call 224-4668).

-- Snee Farm’s Grand Prix Doubles Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 18-20. The entry deadline is Nov. 16. Sign up at sneefarmtennis.com.

-- Seabrook Island’s Alan Fleming Senior Open Clay Court State Championship has been selected as the state’s adult tournament of the year. The tournament has come through again in a big way by raising more than $40,000 for the Hospice of Charleston Foundation. The tournament presented a check to Hospice for $37,500 during an awards dinner at the tournament.

Reach James Beck at jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.