Oconee County High School Warrior tennis got the first of a two part glimpse into the future Thursday afternoon when they hosted the "currently non-region opponent” Morgan County Bulldogs, a team they will face as a regular AAA region opponent next year. The 2013 preview continues next Tuesday, when the Warriors travel to North Oconee to face their second opponent from 2013's new AAA region realignment.
Thursday's results were very good for the Oconee girls, as the Lady Warriors had little trouble overcoming the Lady Bulldogs, by closing out their regular season home slate with a 5-0 win. It was the ladies' ninth win a row and improved their overall record to 15-2 on the year. The Lady Warriors are currently ranked 2nd inGeorgia in AAA. They will have a supreme test awaiting Tuesday, when they face the 13-3 cross-county rival North Oconee, whose ladies are currently ranked 4th in Georgia in AA.
Leading the way for Oconee at number one was freshman Jordan England, who won over Caroline Jones 6-0, 6-3. Katy Kane at two and Caroline McElhannon at three, gave up only one game each as they coasted past Ansley Jones and Katharine Rittenhouse 6-1, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-1 respectively. Megan Morris and Ivy Do, both freshmen on the Lady Warrior team, defeated Sara Jones and Amelia Collier 6-1, 6-0, while the number two doubles pair of Macy Bird and Lizzie Coram had little trouble in dispensing Alex Ewing and Alex Malone 6-1, 6-2.
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The Warrior boys, currently ranked 3rd in state AAA, notched their 16th win of the season, by a 4-1 count, but had to overcome a feisty Morgan County team that gave the Warriors a strong challenge. In the end, however, the Warriors won on all courts except three singles. Like the Lady Warriors, the boys will receive their strongest test of the season with next Tuesday's match at North Oconee. The Titans are currently ranked 2nd in state AA.
For the Warriors, junior Will McDonald, playing number one, outlasted Sam Cooper 6-3, 6-2. Sam Ondo, a senior playing his last regular season home match, won at two with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Sutton Trulock. Conner Smith, also a senior playing in his last regular season home match, lost in a tight 3 set match at number three to 0-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Wolfgang Busenitz..
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With number one doubles mainstay Drew Horsely out due to an injury, CoachDan Gruetter was forced to juggle his doubles match lineups, but the change seemed to have little adverse affect on the outcome of both matches. The number one duo of Dan Madden and Hunter Pritchard took care of business with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Nathan Newhart and Chan Courchaine, while the two doubles team of Chandler Shields and Zach Miner got the Warriors' fourth point as they breezed past Drew McHugh and Garrett Gardner 6-1, 6-1.
Number two doubles man Sam Ondo commented after the match. “It’s a bittersweet thing because it’s my last home match and playing as a senior. I am ready to move on to college and get all the new experiences, but when I think back on it, it’s all a culmination of everything you’ve been working towards your entire high school career. I’m just glad that today we could end it on a high note, and am looking forward to region and hopefully the state tournament.”
Oconee's Tuesday match at North Oconee is their last regular season match, prior to spring break and the 8-AAA region tournament in Flowery Branch April 18-19. The Warriors are the top region 8-AAA seed for both girls and boys.