By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Western Alamance senior Luke Durham figured if he kept improving that he would be in line for something special in the Class 5-A state tournament for boys’ tennis.
It turned out he became the singles state champion.
“I’ve definitely improved a lot,” Durham said. “Playing more with everybody on the team. My mentality improved as well.”
He wasn’t alone Saturday at Cary Tennis Park, where Western’s doubles tandem of Adam Boyleston and Timothy McDowell also won a state title.
Across the tournament’s two days, Durham defeated Smoky Mountain’s Derek Hinkle 6-2, 6-2; Pikeville Aycock’s Nathan Call by 6-0, 6-1; and Hickory’s Graham Powers by 6-3, 6-3 to claim Western’s first singles state title.
Against Powers in the title match, Durham avenged a quarterfinals loss from last year’s tournament.
“It was kind of a difficult mental thing,” Durham said.
Durham, in the states for the third year in a row, conquered all obstacles. So when leading 5-0 in the first set, he was unfazed by a match suspension because of rain.
“Luke Durham is such a unique tennis player,” Western coach Rich Dowler said. “He’s a defensive player and can flick a switch and go offensive. He does not beat himself.”
Doubles champions
Boyleston and Mc-Dowell became Western’s fourth doubles champions – and first in 26 years.
Boyleston/McDowell topped East Lincoln’s Nathan MacKel and Carson Brown by 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; South Bruns-wick’s Andrew Fergu-son and Cooper Pitt-man by 6-1, 6-2; and South Point’s Rex Dover and Tyler Cunning-ham by 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.
Boyleston/McDowell reached the 2025 semifinals, so they decided to try it again.
“We definitely had confidence we kind of could go far,” said Boyleston, a junior left-hander with a strong forehand. “Our games kind of matched each other. Let’s try it again.”
McDowell, a senior, offers big serves.
Boyleston/McDowell were challenged with two matches going to three sets. They didn’t waver in the championship tilt.
“Once we got to the third set, we kind of refocused,” McDowell said. “We started to play loose and have some fun.”
Dowler liked the response and the ensuing celebration.
“We took control in the third (set),” Dowler said. “It was a great moment.”
Also in doubles, Western’s James Boylston and Carter Kaffenberger lost 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 to Dover/Cunningham in the first round.
Western in dual team states
Western is aiming for a dual team championship as well.
The top-seeded Warriors beat Seaforth 5-1 in Monday’s make-up third-round match and then won again at home Tuesday by 5-0 against West Carteret in the East Region. No. 6 singles player Karson Cotton clinched the outcome of the Seaforth match.
That set up Western for a regional final against Pikeville Aycock. The winner meets either Hickory or Atkins in the state final at Burlington Tennis Center. The Class 5-A final has been listed for noon Friday, but Dowler said if Western advances that a fourth match of the week could be pushed back.
The Class 6-A and Class 8-A finals are listed for Friday morning, with Class 7-A on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, Class 1-A/2-A and Class 4-A go in the morning with Class 3-A in the afternoon.
NCISAA Class 2-A
Burlington Christian Academy defeated Westchester Country Day School 5-3 on Tuesday in High Point to advance to the state final in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s state playoffs.
The Royals (16-3) will face Wayne Country Day School at noon Saturday at North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.
BCA defeated Fayetteville Academy 5-3 in Saturday’s quarterfinals at Olde Forest Racquet Club in Elon.
