Pioneers pound S. Caldwell
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Even when Watauga boys tennis coach Scott Taylor moved people around in his lineup, and even when he let others not normally in the Pioneers’ top six get to play doubles, South Caldwell was no match for Watauga.

The Pioneers rolled to a 9-0 Northwestern 4-A Conference victory over South Caldwell Monday at the Carroll Complex. It was Senior Day for the Pioneers, so Taylor elevated Beau Wilson to No. 2 singles and Jeff Geldmeier to No. 3.

Both had no trouble collecting victories. Wilson rolled past Matthew Kinkle 6-0, 6-0, while Geldmeier beat Matthew Mackie 6-1, 6-0.

Watauga’s other senior, Graham Battle, played the most interesting match at No. 1 singles. Facing Steven Gullette, a transfer from Ohio, Battle won in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

“He was a good player,” Battle said of Gullette. “It was hard to get into a rhythm with him because he’d make four or five good shots, but then miss.”

The other three Pioneers — Steve Lake, Brian Geldmeier and Davis Roberts — won in straight sets. Lake beat Rainer Robinson 6-1, 6-0, Geldmeier beat Marshall Frank 6-0, 6-1 and Roberts downed Tyler Paris 6-2, 6-0.

“A lot of matches have been like this, except for A.C. Reynolds. They’re pretty tough,” Taylor said. “We’ve just got better players right now than other teams, this year anyway.”

The results weren’t much different in doubles. Battle teamed with Wilson to beat Gullette and Kinkle 8-0, while Jeff Geldmeier teamed with Preston Stigall to beat Mackie and Robinson 8-0. At No. 3 doubles, Watauga’s duo of Ryan Switzer and Alex Blackwelder beat Frank and Parish 8-2.

“When we’re up 6-0 we like to get them in when we can,” Taylor said of Switzer and Blackwelder. “We give them some experience, because they may play next year.”

Watauga closes out its regular season Friday at Alexander Central before beginning the NWC tournament Monday.

“It’s been a good season overall,” Battle said. “We’ve had three losses to 3A schools that are in the top 10 in 3A, so it’s been a good year.”

Watauga 9, South Caldwell 0
Singles
Graham Battle d. Steven Gullette, 6-3, 6-2.
Beau Wilson d. Matthew Kinkle, 6-0, 6-0.
Jeff Geldmeier d. Matthew Mackie, 6-1, 6-0.
Steve Lake d. Rainer Robinson, 6-1, 6-0.
Brian Geldmeier d. Marshall Frank, 6-0, 6-1.
Davis Roberts d. Tyler Parish, 6-2, 6-0.
Doubles
Battle/Wilson d. Gullette/Kinkle, 8-0.
J. Geldmeier/Preston Stigall d. Mackie/Robinson, 8-0.
Ryan Switzer/Alex Blackwelder d. Frank/Parish, 8-2.