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RC Boys Tennis Team Optimistic About Next Year
Rockbridge County High School junior boys tennis players Nic Faulds and Nic Vargas concluded their season with a loss to Western Albemarle in the Region 3C doubles semifinals last Wednesday at Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville.
The RC pair suffered a 6-0, 6-1 setback against Western Albemarle’s Clark Eby and Wade Stuman.
Reviewing the match, RC head coach Scott Youngdahl said, “There were a couple of games that went to deuce. They are a very good team. Anything that is not deep and up high, they’re going to pounce on.”
“We competed well, and it was a good experience,” added Youngdahl, concluding his first season as the Wildcats’ head coach.
On Tuesday of last week, the RC pair beat Heritage’s Alec Stickle and Ethan Malone 6-3, 6-1, also at Wilson Memorial. “We can be good when we have momentum and finish at the net,” said Youngdahl.
Faulds and Vargas won the Valley District doubles tournament this year, upsetting Spotswood’s top pair in the finals. It was the Wildcats’ first district doubles title in 13 years, when Ty Ashworth and Holden Branham won the title in 2011.
Vargas competed in the Region 3C singles tournament on Tuesday of last week at WM, falling in the quarterfinals to Liberty Christian Academy’s Landon Bivens 6-1, 6-1. Vargas was the runner-up in the Valley District singles tournament and finished with a singles record of 14-6.
Under the direction of Youngdahl and assistant coach Brian Barney, the Wildcats went 10-7 as a team this season, going 5-5 in the Valley District. The team portion of RC’s season ended with a 6-0 loss to LCA on May 20 in the Region 3C quarterfinals. Last year, the Wildcats went 3-11 and 2-6 in the district, not advancing to the Region 3C tournament.
The Wildcats graduated just one player, Jacob Peart. They look to return all of their top six singles players while adding new players. Vargas and Faulds will be seniors, as will No. 3 singles player Gardner Clement. The rest of the top six players from this year will be juniors: Jaxon Johnson, Harrison Tanner and Barrett Kosmas.
“I’m looking forward to getting these guys back and getting everybody better,” said Youngdahl. “We know what’s out there and what we need to work on. We need to make our serves our weapons.”
