Statesville Christian nips WCDS in NCISAA 1A semifinals

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 18, 2014 12:30 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Confident in its ability, Wayne Country Day took defending state champion Statesville Christian to the limit Friday afternoon.

The third-seeded Lions rallied from an opening-set loss at No. 5 singles and handed the Chargers a season-ending, 5-4 defeat in semifinal-round action of the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A boys' dual-team tennis playoffs.

Statesville Christian's bid for a second straight state title ended with an 8-1 loss to Oakwood in the finals contested Saturday morning on the Barton College Tennis Complex courts.

WCDS didn't field a tennis team last season, but returned in dominating fashion this spring. Directed by head coach Michael See and assistant coach Michael Taylor, the senior-led Chargers finished runner-up to Oakwood in Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference play.

"This tennis season has been the best season that I could have asked for my senior year," said Michael Knutson, who earned a spot on the NCISAA All-State team along with seventh-grader Sam Dively.

"We went from not having a tennis team last year to being the two seed in the state (this year). The whole team played hard the whole time. Even though we fell short by one match in the semifinals of the state tournament, I couldn't be more proud of my team."

Knutson and fellow senior Miller Gerrard, who have been in the same class since kindergarten, claimed the Chargers' lone doubles point. The top-seeded duo trailed 4-3 and reeled off five second games to defeat the Lions' tandem of Daniel Christian-Ryan Farmer, 8-4.

Knutson-Gerrard improved to 12-2 this season.

"Senior maturity won that match," See said.

Statesville Christian (5-7) headed into singles play with a 2-1 advantage. But the Chargers tied the match at 2-2 after Preston Edwards dusted the Lions' Dylan Holman 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.

Victories at Nos. 2 and 6 singles propelled Statesville Christian to a 4-2 lead. Once again Wayne Country Day responded.

Knutson polished off his prep career with a 7-5, 6-2 decision over Barker at No. 1 singles. Gerrard evened the overall score at 4-4 with a tension-filled 7-6, 7-5 win over Ryan Farmer at No. 3 singles.

Statesville sophomore Sean Perry sealed the outcome with a 6-7, 6-1, 6-0 triumph over the Chargers' Hunter Hawkins at No. 5 singles.

In addition to Knutson and Gerrard, it was also the final match for Holden Edwards.

"I have really enjoyed working with the team for the last two weeks," said Taylor, who has substituted for See on occasion during the Chargers' stretch run.

See will not return next spring.