PREP TENNIS: Goldsboro's DeAraujo-Pate claim East 2A doubles crown

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 8, 2017 10:05 AM

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From staff reports

SNOW HILL -- Goldsboro's tandem of Sam DeAraujo-Xan Pate claimed the 2017 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A eastern regional doubles championship.

Seeded second, DeAraujo-Pate opened play with a 6-0, 6-0 decision over Currituck's Kaleb Kight-Josh Crisell. They battled from behind to eliminate Uriah Sheetz-Nev Duruman of Edenton Holmes 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Their ticket already punched to the state tournament, DeAraujo-Pate weren't done. They triumphed 6-3, 6-1 over North Johnston's Tyler Jackson-Jonathan Gonzalez, who were the No. 3 overall seed.

DeAraujo-Pate clinched the title with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 conquest of top-seeded Zach Pagnani-Ben McKeithan from Washington.

Teammates Aaron Podbielski and Caleb Whitted competed on the singles scene. Podbielski defeated Brendan Humphrey of North Jacksonville in the first round, but fell to top-seeded Lucien Stein of First Flight in the second round.

Whitted shocked Croatan's Graham Guthrie, the No. 3 seed, in first-round play. He dropped a 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 decision to North Johnston's Ian Walston in the quarterfinals.

Goldsboro returns to action Tuesday at N.C. School of Science & Math for a second-round match in the dual-team playoffs. First serve is 4 p.m. in Durham.