BOYS' TENNIS: Chargers ease past Grace Christian-Sanford

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 11, 2017 11:39 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

Short-term memory loss can be a good thing.

Especially when you're a young tennis team with just two returning starters and four seventh-graders on the roster.

One day after falling to perennial 2-A independent power Parrott Academy just 24 hours earlier, first-year Wayne Country Day head coach Nate Buechler said to dismiss the loss.

"I told them to try things, don't put too much pressure on yourself," Buechler said. "In tennis, you need a short-term memory. To be able to come back the next day, forget that loss and get a victory was huge."

WCDS emerged victorious in four of six singles matches and edged Grace Christian-Sanford, 5-4, on the pollen-covered courts at Wayne Community College on Friday afternoon.

The Chargers led 2-1 after doubles.

The top-seeded tandem of Sam Dively-Alec Fritzinger posted an 8-0 victory. The No. 2 duo of Charlie Dees-Michael Geer survived an up-and-down battle to defeat Grace's Collin Crilly-Danny Lee 8-6.

"That was huge," Buechler said. "If you go down 1-2 in doubles, coming back is not an easy to do. Michael (a seventh-grader) was playing with someone who had experience."

Dively, Fritzinger and Dees each emerged victorious in straight-set fashion at the top three singles spots. Dively didn't lose a game, while Dees prevailed 6-0, 6-1. Each helped the Chargers to a semifinal-round appearance in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A dual-team playoffs last spring.

Fritzinger won 6-2, 6-1.

Grace Christian claimed the bottom three singles matches with two decided by tiebreakers. Lee defeated Peter Ye 6-2, 0-6, 1-0 (8), while teammate Caleb Holiday stopped Seth Moye 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (8).

Ye is a sophomore.

Moye is a seventh-grader.

"Peter, to come back and win the second 6-0 is impressive," Buechler said. "I was very pleased that he was able to bounced back...pleased with that effort. Toward the end of the season, those are matches that Peter is going to start winning.

"Seth did not get down on himself, came back and competed. He's been playing the game less than a year. As the season goes on, he learn how to win those close ones."

WCDS returns to action Tuesday at Parrott.