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Despite playing mostly close matches, the Rockbridge County High School boys tennis team suffered a 9-0 road loss to Staunton in its season opener on Thursday evening.
At No. 1 singles, RC sophomore Nic Faulds challenged Staunton sophomore Laurel Shelton, but Shelton ultimately won 8-6. The Wildcats also lost a close one at No. 6 singles, where Staunton senior Lain Strickland beat RC freshman Barrett Kosmas.
In doubles, the closest match was at No. 3 singles, where Staunton’s Alton Harrison and Ben Cason earned an 8-5 win over Kosmas and sophomore Eli Fox.
The Wildcats and Staunton are scheduled to meet again in Lexington on Wednesday, April 19. “We are excited to play them again,” said second-year RC head coach Rebekah Butler.
RC was slated to play host to Christiansburg on Tuesday of last week, but that match was rescheduled for April 20 due to wind and cold temperatures.
After graduating no seniors and returning five players from last year’s team, which went 3-11 overall and 2-6 in the Valley District, the Wildcats look to improve. RC ended last year’s season with a 5-1 loss at Waynesboro in the first round of the Region 3C tournament.
RC’s co-captains are senior Matthew Feldman and junior Malcolm Kosmas. Feldman, who was RC’s No. 1 singles player last year, starts at No. 2, with Faulds moving up to No. 1. Malcolm Kosmas stays at No. 3. Returning to the top six are senior Benjamin Barney at No. 4 and Fox at No. 5.
New to the team are junior Ronald Berry, sophomore Jacob Peart, and three freshmen: Barrett Kosmas, Jaxon Johnson and Harrison Tanner.
The Wildcats will have their home opener today, Wednesday, against Lord Botetourt at the Lexington Country Club courts. They’ll travel to Stuarts Draft on Monday before beginning Valley District action at Broadway on Tuesday. All three matches are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Staunton 9, RC 0
SINGLES – Laurel Shelton (S) d. Nic Faulds (RC) 8-6; Tucker Terry (S) d. Matthew Feldman (RC) 8-4; Mac Carr (S) d. Malcolm Kosmas (RC) 8-4; Spencer Blackwell (S) d. Benjamin Barney (RC) 8-4; Alton Harris (S) d. Eli Fox(RC) 8-5; Lain Strickland (S) d. Barrett Kosmas (RC) 9-7.
DOUBLES – Shelton and Terry (S) d. Faulds and Barney (RC) 8-4; Carr and Blackwell (S) d. Feldman and M. Kosmas (RC) 8-4; Harris and Ben Cason (S) d. Fox and B. Kosmas (RC) 8-5.
