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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
As part of the new realignment, the NCHSAA adopted a provision that the state individual tournaments will be conducted as three-round, 8-entry brackets. This means that only two players (or doubles teams) will advance from each regional to the state tournaments.
The NCHSAA also announced that our four traditional sites will be used for the state tournaments, with two classifications at each tournament site.
- 1A/2A - Cary Tennis Park
- 3A/4A - Ting Park in Holly Springs
- 5A/6A - Burlington Tennis Center
- 7A/8A - Millbrook Exchange Park
Another change coming in the fall of 2025 is the adoption of the USTA High School Digital Platform (aka Serve Tennis) as the management tool for the state individual tournaments.
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- Written by: Donald Clark
Elkin High School is returning all six of its starters for the 2025 women's tennis season. The Lady Bucking Elks are also adding a senior who did not play last year but started two years ago at number four singles. The squad is also adding the numbers one and number two players from last year's undefeated middle school team. The three seniors who graduated in 2024 were not starters.
Dr. Jim Harrell, Jr. is starting his third season as the head coach at Elkin High School. He has an overall record of 18-10, finishing third in the conference both seasons. The squad held its first practice on Thursday, July 31st on the school courts.
"I am excited about the season. We have eighteen or more that I have been coaching since they were eighth graders. These ladies have matured as players, improved greatly, and are ready to compete in a realigned conference," said Dr. Harrell.
Elkin's top returnee is senior Elissa Dickerson who went 6-6 at number one singles as a junior. Junior Jocelyn Johnson returns at number two singles after an 8-5 campaign in 2024.
Coach Harrell runs a no-cut program at Elkin High School and will be keeping all eighteen players.
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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
The regional tournaments will remain 16-entry draws in both singles and doubles. That's the same format as in previous years.
However, starting this fall, berths to the regional tournaments will no longer be distributed to conferences, but will be awarded based on pre-regional qualifying events.
So, what are these pre-regionals?
Basically, it's like the qualifying rounds at a major professional event, such as the US Open. Only, instead of taking a full week to play three or four rounds of qualifying, our pre-regional event is one round of play, with the winners advancing to the regional tournaments.
The pre-regional isn't a tournament ... it is one round of qualifying for the regionals. That's by design, as we did not want to obligate coaches, players, and parents to a third weekend of post-season individual play.
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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
The NCHSAA Board of Directors, at its spring meeting held on April 29th-30th, adopted the format for the individual and dual-team championships.
The actions of the NCHSAA over the course of the last six months track closely with the Realignment Priniciples adopted by the NCHSTCA Board last summer, with one major exception.
That exception was the decision by the Board of Directors to adopt the Bylaw Committee recommendation that the individual state tournaments be limited to eight singles players and eight doubles teams in each classification. This was a recommendation presented to the Board of Directors over the objection, and against the better judgment, of the NCHSTCA.
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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
In January, the NCHSTCA conducted a survey of NC high school tennis coaches with regard to several issues concerning the 2025 realignment to eight classifications.
Ninety-two coaches responded to the survey, from all areas of the state and from all eight future classifications. We believe the results reflect an accurate picture of the feelings and beliefs of NC high school tennis coaches, and we have shared these results with NCHSAA staff.