Asheville – Hendersonville and Owen also secured league titles, while North Buncombe surpassed most local teams by winning two playoff matches.
Carolina Day advanced to the NCISAA Division II state semifinals for private schools.
T.C.: Tennis Champions
T.C. Roberson has been a tennis powerhouse since the last millennium. T.C. might as well stand for Tennis Champions. The Rams (20-2) achieved a perfect 12-0 record in Mountain Athletic Conference team matches, shutting out three NCHSAA 4A tennis playoff opponents.
This young Ram squad, led by coach Buzz Cook, is expected to improve even further in 2025. Its top three singles players were then-sophomores Isaac Lewis (23-2), James O’Brien (17-3), and Luke Enea. The sixth seed, junior Jackson Bookout, has the potential to take on a larger role next season.
Individually, Lewis reached the NC 4A state singles semifinals, with the only player to defeat him going on to win the state singles title.
Only two Rams were seniors who graduated in mid-June: the team’s fourth seed, Oliver Stryker; fifth seed George West; and Samuel Lancor. Stryker has a fitting name for a player who hits the ball hard. Other tennis Rams included juniors Roman White, Harry Shaw, and Hudson Copenhaver; sophomore Evan Teeters; and freshman Vir Datt.
Roberson had another outstanding spring sports season, highlighted by the baseball Rams winning a state record third consecutive state title.
Hawkish Effort
League tennis runner-up North Buncombe (14-4 overall) finished 9-2 in MAC play, defeating all teams except T.C. Roberson. Next in the league standings were Asheville (7-5), A.C. Reynolds (7-5), Erwin (5-7), McDowell (1-10), and Enka (1-11). AHS, ACR, and Erwin lost their dual-team playoff openers.
Robert Graeme coaches the NBHS Hawks. In the 3A playoffs, the Hawks reached the third round but fell 6-3 at home to West Henderson (17-2). Second seed Hank Walker and sixth seed Aidan Flynn won their matches. NBHS had previously defeated West 8-1 during the regular season.
Although a young team overall, the Hawks will graduate three key seniors: top two seeds Derek Gilliland and Hank Walker, along with fourth seed Wil Jones. The highest-seeded non-senior Hawks are sophomores Jack Hannah, the third seed, and Flynn. Hannah partnered with Gilliland as the number one doubles team.
Falcons Soar
The West Henderson Falcons, coached by Allen Combs, finished 12-0 to win the Mountain Seven crown.
West had an equal number of freshmen (three) and seniors. Graduated seniors include number one seed Connor McCrain (14-3), third seed Spencer Thorsland (18-1), and fifth seed Seth Buttry. McCrain and Thorsland had a combined doubles record of 20-2 and qualified for the 3A doubles state championship tournament.
Freshman Jack Otten, the second seed, is poised to lead West in 2026. The other freshmen are sixth seed Orien Swirczek and Beckett Atwell. Rising senior Teague Atwell was the fourth seed. Atwell and Otten formed the second doubles pairing.
In their playoff victory over the Hawks, West won four of six singles matches, with McCrain, Thorsland, Atwell, and Buttry emerging victorious. In doubles, McCrain-Thorsland and Otten-Swirczek secured wins to clinch the match.
West’s intra-county league rivals include North Henderson (3-9 M7) and East (0-10). West began its season with a 6-3 win over Hendersonville (HHS).
HHS, Owen
Hendersonville is a powerhouse in girls’ tennis and strong in boys’ play as well. HHS (12-3, 9-1 MFC) won the Mountain Foothills title and its 2A playoff opener. Adam Chacon coaches the Bearcats.
Their top singles players, in order, were freshman Izaiah Campos (13-2), sophomore Andy Trnka, junior Jacob Shaffer, senior Hilton Swing, junior Alex Chacon, and senior Adam White. Swing received the WNC Sports Award as the premier scholar-athlete among smaller area schools. Other tennis Cats included senior Alex Smith, junior Calvin Hockenberry, and freshmen Alex Broenner and Matthew Owen.
Owen (10-6) claimed the Western Highlands title with a 7-1 record. The Warhorses won two 2A dual playoff matches and defeated 4A Asheville during the regular season. John Faircloth is Owen’s head coach.
The veteran Warhorses will graduate their top three seeds: Blake Bradley, Rafael Kohn, and Wayah Gore. Fourth seed Luke Florence is a rising senior who will help lead the 2026 squad. Their younger players include freshman Silas Kraak and senior Rye Dickens. Other Warhorses are senior Ezzie Noteboom, rising senior Daniel Shirk, and freshmen Carver Redding and Lincoln Hunt.