By Becca Royer, Features Editor
Reynolds offers many educational things during the springtime: the ACT for juniors, senior exemptions, the poet laureate competition and an abundance of spring sports. During this season, one of the most prestigious teams at Reynolds competes: the men’s tennis team.
Men’s tennis has not lost a conference match in five years. As if that’s not impressive enough, the team won three consecutive 4-A state championships and finished as runner-up to the title after competing in the state championship last year.
“It’s been really cool being on such a successful team,” said junior Nate Rowell, who has played on the varsity tennis team since his freshman year. “I am definitely expecting a state championship out of this season”
The Demons’ coach, AJ Highsmith, has high hopes for the season as well.
“I expect nothing less than winning a championship. That is our goal each and every year and is our focus from day one. Our goals are to win the CPC title outright and also to win the state championship,” Highsmith said. “I like our chances to reach the state championship for the sixth year in a row. Having won three in a row and losing last year, we want to get back and redeem ourselves. We came up just short last year, but with a solid work ethic and focus, I believe we can get back and win it again.”
This mindset is being enforced every day after school when the team hits the courts for two and a half hours. “(Coach Highsmith) is really intense when it comes to practice,” Rowell said. “But it drives us all to do our best and work hard.”
Rowell, along with seniors Jack Riazzi, John Kretzschmar and Nick McDaniel, are key players this season. All of them were in the top six on varsity last year and Riazzi committed to play for Davidson College next year on scholarship. Bennett Crane, a sophomore, also has played his way into one of the top positions on the team.
Although the Mount Tabor rivalry lives on in every sport for Reynolds, no team in the Central Piedmont Conference can be seen as competition for the tennis team.
“I honestly think our toughest competition is ourselves at this point. We have to believe in our ability, our preparation and our goals,” Highsmith said. “With that being said, every opponent will get our utmost respect. We will overlook nobody. (Greensboro) Page presents a challenging opponent. Also, we (played) in a very challenging tournament in Louisville, Ky., at the end of March, which featured several top teams from across the Southeast.”
The Demons went 3-1 in that event against teams from Illinois, Georgia and Tennessee. The experience should prepare the Demons for the top competition in the NCHSAA tournament.
“Obviously, the playoffs will be a challenge each and every round,” Highsmith said. “Raleigh Millbrook, Wakefield and Broughton are all very strong teams who pose a threat to our quest for a title. We will have to play very good tennis as a whole in order to win.”
In the meantime, the Reynolds tennis team will continue working hard, kicking butt and taking names against local foes. Of the Demons’ six remaining regular-season matches, five come at home during April, so it’s a great time to see the powerhouse in action. As good as the Demons are, though, Highsmith’s strategy is to keep the team focused and humble.
“We must prepare better, harder and more efficiently than our opponents to ensure we get to where we want to go,” he said.
R.J. Reynolds Men’s Tennis Schedule and Results
Date | Opponent | Time/ Result |
Feb. 26 | Bishop McGuinness | W 7-2 |
March 5 | @ Davie County | W 7-2 |
March 6 | Parkland | W 6-0 |
March 6 | Parkland | W 6-0 |
March 10 | @ Mount Tabor | W 7-2 |
March 11 | @ North Davidson | W 8-1 |
March 13 | @ Page | W 5-1 |
March 19 | @ Reagan | W 9-0 |
March 20 | @ West Forsyth | W 8-1 |
March 28 | New Trier (IL) | L 5-4 |
March 28 | Blessed Trinity (GA) | W 6-0 |
March 28 | Edwardsville (IL) | W 7-2 |
March 29 | Baylor (TN) | W 5-4 |
April 8 | Davie County | 4:30 |
April 9 | Mount Tabor | 4:30 |
April 10 | High Point Central | 4:30 |
April 14 | North Davidson | 4:30 |
April 16 | West Forsyth | 4:30 |
April 22 | Reagan | 4:30 |
April 23 | Conference Tourney at RJR | 10:00 |
April 29 | 1st Rd of Playoffs | 4:00 |
May 2-3 | Individual Regionals | 2:00 |
May 6 | 2nd Rd of Playoffs | 4:00 |
May 8-9 | Individual States | 9:00 |
May 13 | Playoffs Quarterfinals | 4:00 |
May 15 | Semi-Finals | 4:00 |
May 17 | State Finals | 1:00 |