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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
2025 NC Tennis Hall of Fame Class: Donald Clark, Don Flow, Janet Moseley, Ashley Rhoney
At a lavish ceremony on Saturday, February 1st, capping off this year's Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst Resort, the North Carolina Tennis Foundation inducted Donald Clark into its NC Tennis Hall of Fame.
An avid tennis player himself, Coach Clark began coaching tennis at Greene Central High School in 1988, taking the job "for a year" after being promised a baseball position the following year. The baseball position never materialized, and Donald began a 26-year tenure coaching tennis at the school.
Greene Central was not a tennis powerhouse. His first men's team went 7-14, and his first two women's teams went 0-32 combined. But patience and hard work paid off. In 1994, Greene Central won a women's conference championship for the first time, beginning a streak of twenty straight conference championships.
Coach Clark's 1998 women's team reached the state championship match, the first of seven consecutive second place finishes before finally winning the first of two state championships in 2005. Greene Central's men's team, meanwhile, went to four consecutive state finals from 2002-2005.
In 2013, Clark retired from Greene Central and continued his teaching and coaching career at Arendell Parrott Academy and now, teaching at John Paul II Catholic High School in Greenville, he serves as the women's tennis coach at C.B. Aycock High School. In 2023, Coach Clark celebrated his 700th win, and he's still counting.
Donald Clark and wife, Dela, with members of the Greene Central tennis family
Coach Clark fueled the impressive run of success at Greene Central by helping to build an outstanding USTA program in Snow Hill, serving as both a USTA tournament director and referee for many years. He also helped inspire the construction of a 12-court tennis facility adjacent to Greene Central, the largest high school tennis faciiity in the state.
In 2007, Coach Clark helped found the NC High School Tennis Coaches Association, and served as its initial president for twelve years. He is currently serving as Vice President. In that capacity, Donald has been a consistent advocate for coaches, players, and parents from every corner of the state.
And, in 2020, Coach Clark was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
On behalf of the NCHSTCA, we extend our sincere congratulations to our friend and founder, Donald Clark.
Well done!
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- Written by: Donald Clark
Pinecrest High School's Marshall Landry is the 2023 recipient of the USTA North Carolina Coach Don Skakle High School Male Player of the Year award. Landry is currently a freshman on the men's tennis team at Mississippi State University.
Landry won the 2023 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4-A singles championship at Raleigh Millbrook Exchange Park.
Congratulations to Marshall, and to Pinecrest coach Gail Deese, pictured displaying state championship rings presented by their school at a recent home basketball game.
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The NCHSAA conducted its 2023 Women's Dual Team Championships on Saturday, November 4th, with Mount Airy, Hendersonville, Lake Norman Charter, and Myers Park earning the titles.
In 1-A, Mount Airy topped Voyager Academy in convincing fashion, winning 5-0, and losing only 11 games in the process.
In 2-A, Hendersonville won its fourth consecutive state championship with a 5-2 win over Research Triangle.
In 3-A, Lake Norman Charter defeated Fayetteville Terry Sanford, 5-4, in a match decided by a tiebreaker at No. 3 doubles.
And, in 4-A, in another 5-4 battle, Myers Park defeated New Hanover on the strength of a third-set tiebreak win at No. 5 singles.
Click here for a complete recap of the tournament finals.
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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association crowned its 2023 women's individual tennis champions at state tournaments taking place on October 27th & 28th.
At the 1A tournament, played at the Cary Tennis Park, Highland Tech's Madison Darnell claimed the singles title, while the team of Sasha Korjova and Brianna Viets of Triangle Math & Science won the doubles championship.
In 2A play at Ting Park in Holly Springs, Olivia Hankinson of Reasearch Triangle defended her singles crown, and Hendersonville's Eliza Perry and Ramsey Ross earned their third consecutive doubles titles.
At the 3A tournament, played at Burlington Tennis Center, McKinley Battle of Rocky Mount won the singles championship, while Pauline Bui and Loren Galavis of Fayetteville Terry Sanford won the doubles title.
And, in 4A play, at Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center in Raleigh, Broughton's Allison Harris won the singles title, and Apex Friendship's Julianne and Caroline Izod won the doubles championship.
Click here for the complete tournament recap.
Congratulations to all the champions, as well as all the other participants in this year's individual tournament.