State champs, again -- WCDS nets 2nd straight 1A dual-team tennis title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 25, 2014 11:14 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Hollywood couldn't have penned a better script.

A senior winning state-championship point?

It happened Saturday afternoon.

Standing on the service line knotted at deuce, Wayne Country Day's Taylor Willman took a couple of deep breaths as she bounced the tennis ball.

She tossed and served.

Ace.

While her teammates traded ground strokes with their opponents on the other courts, Willman went through the same routine again.

She tossed and served.

Ace.

But this time it was set, match and state-title point -- all in one.

Willman's 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Trinity of Raleigh's Anna Duggins sealed Wayne Country Day's 5-0 victory and secured its second consecutive N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A girls' dual-team championship.

"That's match," someone said in the stands.

Willman's teammates dropped their rackets, rushed toward her court, sister Ally wrapped her in a bear hug and the Chargers celebrated their eighth state crown in program history.

"I knew Jennifer (Potts) had won, but I didn't know about Gianna (Democko) or the bottom three," said Willman, who earned all-state honors along with Democko and Potts.

"I knew everything was kind of iffy."

Potts' straight-set decision over Christie Kim pushed the top-seeded Chargers' advantage to 4-0. Duggins and teammate Kylie Rigsby forced Willman and Democko, respectively, into uncharacteristic unforced errors during the early stages of their singles matches.

Democko rallied to take the first set, 7-5.

Willman regained her composure and won 10 of her final 11 games against Duggins. But the last one proved tedious.

Willman fell behind 15-40 on a double fault and a backhand return that dropped into the net. Duggins obliged with consecutive unforced errors and Willman earned the advantage with an ace serve.

Then came ace No. 2.

"I got into the mindset of hitting it consistently, powerful and it was definitely stressful," Willman. "I had to get determined to get this game so it will be over. That's what I was thinking.

"It's kind of like last year ... relief, surreal right now because everything is happening at once."

Just 32 days ago, Wayne Country Day (19-1 overall) claimed a one-point road win over the Lions. Democko didn't play in that match, which forced first-year head coach Mark Phillips to bump his lineup. Willman played No. 1 and lost to Rigsby.

Democko's presence proved a difference in the rematch. The sharp-hitting and hard-serving junior, along with Willman, handed Rigsby-Duggins an 8-5 loss at No. 1 doubles. The tandems of Potts-Ally Willman and Eliza Eagles-Margaux Pope each prevailed, which gave the Chargers a 3-0 edge heading into singles play.

"Last year, we didn't think we were good enough to win," said Democko, who recalled the team's dramatic 5-4 comeback that snapped Statesville Christian's nine-year reign as state champion.

"We just wanted to try our hardest. Now (this year), it was like we can do it, we showed everybody we can do it again. It wasn't luck."

It was more like determination that rested on a senior's shoulders.

"What a better way for Taylor to go out, it was great," said Phillips, whose team concluded its season with a 13-match win streak and 10 shutouts.

"The last time we played Trinity it was a dogfight. Today, we didn't lose a set and everybody played great. They were all cool and composed even in this high-pressured situation."

And crowned state champions -- again.