John Battle girls continue quest for state tennis title

For the past five years, the story in Southwest Virginia tennis has focused on the Gate City girls.
In fact, the Blue Devils won five straight Group A state championships behind coach Jennie Gardner and three-time singles titlist Tara Sheets.
With Gardner now coaching at Tennessee High and Sheets playing at East Tennessee State, the balance of power shifted to John Battle this season.
John Battle (12-0) won the Region D title behind four seniors, including top seed Emerald Lauzon. The Trojans continue their quest for a state title Friday morning at 9 against Mathews (15-1) in the semifinals.
“We’re just excited about the opportunity go up the road and see how we compete,’’ first-year Battle coach Randy Coleman said. “Our girls have trained hard all year.”
One year after falling to Sheets in the Group A title match, Lauzon begins her quest for individual gold this morning at 9 against Alyssa Wingate of Grayson County. The finals are set for today at noon.
Wingate, a sophomore, survived a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 marathon against Radford’s Maggie Jaronski to win the Region C crown.
Autumn Lauzon, Emerald’s older sister, completed her college career this past spring playing the No. 1 seed for the University of College’s at Wise. Pattty Lauzon, mother of Emerald and Autumn, coached the Trojans the past 10 years.
Individual doubles play begins Friday afternoon at 3, with Lauzon and Carly Johnson (12-0) playing Michelle Repper and Annie Zweighaft from George Mason.
The other regulars for first-year Battle coach include Jill Williams, Jessie Williams, Rachel Terry and Katie Clark.
Gate City (13-4) represents the Region D in the boys competition. The Blue Devils, who lost 5-3 to four-time defending state champ George Mason in last season’s semifinals, face the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School (17-0)  Friday at 1. George Mason is in other bracket.
Chad Sheppard (15-3) will again represent Gate City in the singles competition after falling in three sets in last year’s semifinals. Sheppard faces Malik Mubeen (16-0) of Radford this morning.
For the second straight year, Dalton Moore and Tyler DeBoard of Gate City (11-5) advanced from Region D in doubles. They face Tim Goetz and Johnny Vroom (8-5) of George Mason Friday afternoon at 3.
Jordan Owens, J.T. McConnell and Evan DeBoard are the other regulars for Gate City.
The finals in team and doubles play will be held Saturday afternoon.
GROUP AA
Randall Carter and Adam Henderson authored a piece of school history for Abingdon last season by winning the state doubles championship.
They enter Friday’s state semifinal with a 32-0 record over the past two years, including an 18-0 mark this season.
Carter and Henderson face Region II champions Joey Manilla and Ben Fitts from Western Albemarle Friday afternoon at 1. That match, along with Saturday’s noon championship, will be held at Virginia Tech.
The path to Radford featured a big dose of drama in last week’s Region IV semifinals as the combo fell behind 4-6, 0-2 to Salem before rallying.
“That three-set match was good for Adam and Randall. It was the actually the first time they had dropped a set in 32 matches,” Abingdon coach Adam Smith said. “They rallied to win 11 of 12 games, then sealed deal on Adam’s serve. 
“That Salem team was the best they had faced all year, and it was good to see Adam and Randall fight throught the adversity. When they play together as a team and not as individuals, they are unstoppable.”
Abingdon dropped a 5-3 decision to Western Albermarle in last year’s state team semifinals.
“Randall and Adam won their doubles in that match, and this year’s (Western Albemarle) team has a player from last year’s No. 1 doubles team, so I like our chances,” Smith said.
Traditional power Abingdon failed to advance through the newly-aligned Region IV tournament this season in the team competition, won by Salem.
Graham’s Caitlin Azzo advanced to the finals of the Region IV girls tournament before falling in straight sets to Hidden Valley freshman Kristin Harter. Azzo and her partner Danielle Gabe also fell to Hidden Valley in the Region IV doubles championship. 
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