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![New Hanovers Peyton Philemon received Hoggards Elizabeth Vollmin when New Hanover played Hoggard at a tennis center on Monday, May 17, 2021 in Wilmington, New Hanover. [KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/05/17/NSTN/c8f5fc9f-bbee-4e46-baa1-dc4ec39ebccd-NCWIL-051721-SPT-PG-NHHS1.JPG?width=660&height=506&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Peyton Philemon was only a part-time player on the New Hanover girls team this year, but when a sophomore joined the Wildcats, Philemon was dominant.
The COVID-19 pandemic gave Philemon the opportunity to be a virtual student in New Hannover during his final school year, so he took his lessons at the Barth Hawtin Tennis Academy on South Carolina’s Kiawah Island, practicing five days a week and playing the best competitions. down south.
“I definitely couldn’t do this during a normal year, so we decided to take advantage of it. I’ve improved a lot and I was still able to help New Hannover when they needed me,” Philemon said.
With the Wildcats, Philemon went undefeated in a singles game during the regular season and cruised to the singles title of NCHSAA 3A East Regional. He made it to the semifinals of the state tournament.
After a new spectacular season, Philemon has been named the StarNews Girls tennis team of all players of the year.
The highlight of Philemon’s high school season was two narrow victories over Hoggard, who received the title of Mideastern Conference. The Wildcats won their first meeting 6-3, and they secured the conference championship with a 5-4 win on May 27th.
Philemon went 3-1 in those two matches, and his only defeat came in double-time against Hoggard’s Elizabeth Vollmin and Macy Morrison, who won the 4A pair championship in June.
But in the doubles, Philemon easily won both matches at number 1. He lost just six games in four sets.
“These matches against Hoggard are so much fun because of the competition,” Philemon said. “Both schools know we’re the best in Wilmington, and there’s a lot on the line. It brings out the best in us all.”
Unfortunately, the new Hannover could not prove its eligibility as a team against another state this season. The Wildcats felt like the best 3A team in North Carolina for the entire season, but the NCHSAA canceled the two-team playoffs because of COVID-19.
“It was very disappointing. It’s the competition we’re all looking forward to the most,” Philemon said. “I have a lot of experience playing singles all year round, but playing high school tennis is different and team wins are the best part.”
Luckily for Philemon and the Wildcats, it’s a brief twist with the girls ’tennis – and the return of the two-team tournament – in the fall. Four of the Wildcats ’top six players will return for the upcoming season.
And of course Philemon has an attraction with two other wins of the season. The new Hannover will move back to 4A next year and he wants to break into the tire.
“I think I’m ready to win the state championship,” Philemon said. “I’ve lost in the finals to really good girls over the last two years, but as a single and as a team, that’s the goal.”
The whole range of girls
The first team
Peyton Philemon, sophomore, New Hannover (Yes
Sara Frances Butler, junior, New Hannover
Julia Johnston, Jr., Cape Fear Academy
Macy Morrison, senior, Hoggard
Mary Davis Thompson, Senior, New Hannover
Elizabeth Vollmin, senior, Hoggard
Another team
Sabrina Achki, junior, North Brunswick
Lucy Dimock, freshman, New Hannover
Elle Harmon, freshman, Cape Fear Academy
Alex Lee, senior, Hoggard
Anna Haskins, senior, Hoggard
Liza Wells, freshman, Cape Fear Academy
Reporter Jackson Fuller is available at [email protected] or 910-343-2262.
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Sources 2/ https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/sports/2021/07/14/new-hanovers-peyton-philemon-named-starnews-girls-tennis-player-year-2021-spring/7935264002/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
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