Watauga blanks E. Burke
By Andy Kruse
Special to the Democrat

The Pioneer tennis team wasted no time on their home courts against the East Burke Cavaliers on Thursday, winning all nine matches at the Carroll Complex.

It was no contest as Watauga (10-2) held East Burke (1-9) to only 1 game in the first four singles matches and only two games in all three doubles matches.

Watauga senior and No. 1 singles player Graham Battle won easily 6-0, 6-1 against Brian Kilpatrick.

“He wasn’t a bad player,” Battle said. “But I was holding back and working on coming to the net more to end the points quicker.”

Graham is undefeated in the conference and plans to play for Lees- McRae next year. He spoke of the key to his powerful serve.

“I really get my legs into it,” he said. “I used to be a pitcher and that has helped a lot.”

Freshman, and No. 2 seeded singles player Steve Lake, didn’t even let his opponent take a game, beating Aaron Duncan 6-0, 6-0.

Lake, the son of Appalachian State men’s tennis coach Bob Lake and is also undefeated in the conference. He rarely has many games taken against him.

“That’s pretty much normal,” Lake said. “Sometimes they get a game, but pretty much no on does.”
Battle and Lake also play No. 1 doubles together; they won 8-1 against the Cavaliers’ Brian Kilpatrick and Neil Eckard.

The rest of the Pioneers added straight-set victories. Brian Geldmeier beat Eckard 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles, while Beau Wilson beat Chase Brown by the same 6-0, 6-0 score.

Ryan Schweitzer beat Cole Sperling 6-4, 6-3, and Alex Blackwelder beat Mason Banghart 6-2, 6-2.

“Nothing against East Burke, but our guys have an advantage,” Watauga coach Scott Taylor said. “We’ve been playing a lot longer and play during most of the offseason.”

East Burke coach Jim McCormick kept a positive outlook about the defeat.

“It a good learning experience to play a team of this caliber,” McCormick said. “Our goal is to get better. We hit the ball better than yesterday and will hit it better tomorrow.”

The tennis team could be Watauga’s best kept secret as they have dominated this season with 10 wins and only two losses to Hickory and one to T.C. Roberson. The team has won the conference 14 of the last 15 years.

The Pioneers can seal another conference title with a win Monday against South Caldwell. The conference tournament is April 28, also at South Caldwell.

Watauga 9, East Burke 0
Singles
Graham Battle (W) d. Brian Kilpatrick, 6-0,6-1
Steve Lake (W) d. Aaron Duncan, 6-0, 6-0
Brian Geldmeier (W) d. Neil Eckard, 6-0, 6-0
Beau Wilson (W) d. Chase Brown, 6-0, 6-0
Ryan Schweitzer (W) d. Cole Sperling, 6-4, 6-3
Alex Blackwelder (W) d. Mason Banghart, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
Battle/Lake (W) d. Kilpatrick/Eckard, 8-1
B. Geldmeier/Davis Roberts (W) d. Duncan/Brown, 8-0
Jeff Geldmeier/Preston Stigall (W) d. Sperling/Banghart, 8-1

T.C. Roberson 6, Watauga 3
ASHEVILLE — T.C. Roberson won two out of three doubles and four singles matches to knock off Watauga Saturday.

The Rams got a victory from No. 1 singles player Jacob Wright, who beat Graham Battle 6-1, 6-2. Brandon Hoge (No. 3 singles), Brian Kim (No. 5) and Sawyer Johnson (No. 6) also won matches for Roberson.

Johnson needed three sets before beating Preston Stigall 4-6, 6-2, 14-12.

Watauga got a singles victory from Steve Lake, who beat Brooks Fredrick 6-1, 6-2. Beau Wilson won at No. 4 singles, beating Zack Merrit 6-1, 7-5.

Stigall teamed with Jeff Geldmeier to take a 10-8 victory over Kim and Johnson at No. 3 doubles.

T.C Roberson 6 Watauga 3
Singles
Jacob Wright (TCR) d. Graham Battle, 6-1 6-2
Steve Lake (W) d. Brooks Fredrick, 6-1 6-2
Brandon Hoge (TCR) d. Brian Geldmeier, 6-3 6-4
Beau Wilson (W) d. Zack Merrit, 6-1 7-5
Brian Kim (TCR) d. Jeffery Geldmeier, 6-2 6-2
Sawyer Johnson (TCR) d. Preston Stigall, 4-6 6-2 14-12
Doubles
Wright/Fredrick (TCR) d. Battle/Lake, 10-8
Hoge/Merrit (TCR) d. B. Geldmeier/Wilson, 8-4
J. Geldmeier/Stigall (W) d. Kim/Johnson, 10-8