Wildcats Defeat Broadway 8-1 In District Match
The Rockbridge County High School boys tennis team improved to 2-0 by cruising to an 8-1 win over Broadway in its home and Valley District opener on Monday of last week at the Lexington Country Club courts. The Wildcats, who had earned a 5-4 road win over Lord Botetourt in their season opener on March 19, took care of business decisively in their second match on the cool and windy day.
Starting action with doubles, RC’s Nic Vargas and Nic Faulds coasted to an 8-1 win at No. 1, and Wildcats Gardner Clement and Jaxon Johnson won 8-1 at No. 2. Playing his first varsity match, RC senior Sam Ballstaedt teamed up with freshman Joe Vargas to pull out a 9-7 win at No. 3. RC head coach Scott Youngdahl said the senior/freshman duo was a “good combination.”
In singles, Nic Vargas was trailing, but he came back to win 8-5 at No. 1. The next three seeds for the Wildcats – Faulds, Clement and Johnson – all won 8-0. Youngdahl was especially proud of Johnson. “Jaxon started playing really well, loosening up,” said Youngdahl.
RC’s Joe Vargas earned an 8-1 win at No. 5. Broadway’s only win of the day was at No. 6 singles, where Bradee Crader pulled through in a back-andforth match for an 8-6 win over junior German exchange student Theo Martini.
Pleased by the way his players conducted themselves, Youngdahl said, “Overall, the guys are supporting each other and cheering for each other and staying positive.”
The RC coach said he was also happy to see a good crowd, which included parents, RC athletic director Adam Haynes and former RC boys tennis coach David Miller.
After a two-week break in competition, the Wildcats will continue district action at home against Spotswood on Tuesday before a home rematch with Lord Botetourt next Wednesday, April 9 at the Lexington Country Club courts. The Wildcats will return to district with a pair of district matches the following week, traveling to East Rockingham on Monday, April 14, before playing host to Harrisonburg the next day. All matches are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
Looking ahead to the upcoming competition after two weeks of practice, Youngdahl said, “It’s only gonna get more difficult from here.”
RC 8, Broadway 1
SINGLES – Nic Vargas (RC) d. Tanner Fulk (B) 8-5; Nic Faulds (RC) d. Sam Post (B) 8-0; Gardner Clement (RC) d. Harold Nguemele (B) 8-0; Jaxon Johnson (RC) d. Aaron Manetta (B) 8-0; Joe Vargas (RC) d. Jacob Driver (B) 8-1; Bradee Crider (B) d. Theo Martini (RC) 8-6.
DOUBLES – N. Vargas and Faulds (RC) d. Fulk and Post (B) 8-1; Clement and Johnson (RC) d. Nguemele and Manetta (B) 8-1; J. Vargas and Ballstaedt (RC) d. Driver and Crider (B) 9-7.
