Last chance: Cuddington seeks 1A singles tennis crown

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 8, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CARY -- Rosewood senior Dylan Cuddington has grown accustomed to the unexpected, especially when he steps onto the court during the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association state 1-A tennis championships.

Anyone can beat anyone.

A player's 'A' game and inner confidence has to be in synch.

"You always have to be prepared to play anybody because that person can play good on any given day," said Cuddington, who claimed his third consecutive eastern regional crown last Saturday.

"I've seen that moreso at the states mainly because you have the best players facing off against each other. That's the one thing I've learned from the last two times I've been there."

Cuddington (12-0 overall) opened quarterfinal-round play this morning against Zuri Kent Smith of Queen's Grant on the Cary Tennis Center courts.

The eight-player tournament concludes Friday.

During the regional last weekend, Cuddington and good friend Chase Connor of Riverside Martin talked about how traditionally strong western North Carolina players have been at the state tournament. Since 1998, just two state champions have emerged from the east.

And just two players east of I-95 -- Cuddington and Eastern Wayne alum Russell Turner -- have played for the state title during that 16-year span. Turner captured the 2011 crown while at the N.C. School of Science and Math, and returned to Eastern Wayne the following season.

Cuddington lost to Hendersonville's Jacob Fuqua in the championship match a year ago. Fuqua is favored to win the 2-A crown this weekend.

"I feel confident," Cuddington said.

A player who normally adapts his game to match that of his opponent, Cuddington discovered more about himself this season. He's developed an aggressive mentality that has bolstered his confidence and could prove to be a valuable intangible at the state tournament.

"In the regionals, my game seemed to be a lot better than I thought it would be ... don't know if I could have played much better than I played there because it came together so well," said Cuddington, who plans to attend Bob Jones University after graduation.

"I feel like I have a chance of going all the way this time. If I don't, I won't be upset. Don't get me wrong, I will be disappointed, even though it's not the end of the world. It's my senior year ... last time I'm going to have a shot. I plan to give it everything I've got and put it in God's hands."

Cuddington seeks to become Rosewood's fifth individual state champion and first in tennis, according to a banner hanging in the school gymnasium. Nick Quillen won a pair of wrestling titles. Jamie Hollingsworth, Jessica Hietpas and Bob Cooke combined to win four state championships in track and field.

There have been just three individual state male singles champions -- Turner, Ed Caviness and Charlie Drew -- in county history. Caviness, a Goldsboro High alum, won three consecutive titles from 1952-54. Eastern Wayne's Charlie Drew emerged as the 3-A champ in 2003.