Southern Wayne’s Kylie Hyde, right, watches teammate Charity Van Dyke return backhand shot during their No. 1 doubles match against Fike on Monday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne seniors Isly Cabrera Cabrera, left, and Cindy Cabrera Sanchez, right, were recognized for their contributions to the team after their match Monday afternoon against Fike. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — During their post-match senior celebration Monday evening, Southern Wayne head girls’ tennis coach David Van Dyke thanked a teammate.
Van Dyke reminded the girls that two weeks before regular-season play started, he wondered if he’d have enough players to field a team.
Enter Yeimi Sanchez Martinez.
The junior brought two friends, Isly Cabrera Cabrera and Cindy Cabrera Sanchez, to practice. The two watched and agreed to play. Just over a month later, Sabrina Leon Bohorquez joined the group.
“The first couple of practice weeks, we only had three or four players showing up,” Van Dyke said after the team’s 9-0 loss to traditional powerhouse Wilson Fike. “It was raining so much, that we only got in three practices at the time. We were blessed when one day, Yeimi brought them to practice.
“I can’t overstate how much we needed the seniors — Isla and Cindy — this year.”
The upperclassmen embraced the newcomers, who slowly grew accustomed to the game. Though their individual records didn’t reflect their respective, efforts Van Dyke made sure he constantly encouraged each player on their steady improvement in practice and during match play.
Southern Wayne (1-11 overall) fell to 1-10 against Quad County opposition this season. The Saints begin a season-ending, three-match road swing today at QCC rival East Wake.
Fike (16-0) entered the match ranked No. 1 in the East’s RPI rankings. The Golden Demons extended their QCC win streak to 60.
Wilson Fike 9, Southern Wayne 0
Singles: No. 1 — Holland Ellis (F) d. Charity Van Dyke (SW), 8-0; No. 2 — Kaden Biamby (F) d. Kylie Hyde (SW), 8-0; No. 3 — Zoe Mitchell (F) d. Ameya Randolph (SW), 8-0; No. 4 — Emory Skinner (F) d. Yeimi Sanchez Martinez (SW), 8-0; No. 5 — Sarah Garrett Lamm (F) d. Ilsy Cabrera Cabrera (SW), 8-0; No. 6 — Katelyn Wilson (F) d. Cindy Cabrera Sanchez (SW), 8-0.
Doubles: No. 1 — Ellis-Biamby (F) d. Van Dyke-Hyde (SW), 8-0; No. 2 — Skinner-Mitchell (F) d. Randolph-Martinez (SW), 8-1; No. 3 — Anna Brooks Warned-Wilson (F) d. Cabrera-Sanchez (SW), 8-2.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call 919-709-9257.
