Aynor Wins Region Tennis Championship

May 8, 2009  
Filed under Sports

In the thirty-one year history of the Aynor High men’s tennis program, there had never been a region runner up award let alone a region championship. Nor had any of the men’s tennis teams ever bested more than a break-even record. Until now. With a 4-2 win over the state’s tenth-ranked Dillon Wildcats – the second  such win over Dillon this year – Aynor completed its regular season at 11-1, claimed the Region VIII-AA tennis title and earned a berth in the first round of the State AA-A playoffs – another first for the  men’s program.

 The Blue Jackets’ win over Dillon came in dramatic style as both teams were forced to play for a third time in order to determine the region champion. Aynor had upset the Wildcats at Dillon by a score of 4-3 two weeks ago before Dillon returned the favor with a 4-3 win over Aynor last week on the Blue Jackets’ courts. With each team tied for first place, they were forced to play at a neutral site in order to break the tie. Aynor proceeded to redeem itself from the earlier week’s loss by winning four of the five singles matches en route to the history-making victory. Singles winners for Aynor included Coty Gasque, Thomas Looper, Deangelo Smith and Jessie Rider.

 “This is historical to say the least,” commented Coach Dean Johnson. “Most of these kids had been playing together since the eighth and ninth grades without any real sense of accomplishment. I knew they had it in them and could do it. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives, and I am thrilled to have been a part of the story they’ve told this season.”

 Courtesy of Dawn James & Dean Johnson