Wilson tops district doubles

By Dana Jones Correspondent
Published: May 15, 2008

FISHERSVILLE – Wilson Memorial dominated district play on Thursday, with both the boys and girls doubles teams winning Shenandoah District tournament championships.
In the first round for the girls, Wilson’s Christine Coffield and Jamie Stark thrashed Riverheads’ Ashley Sorrells and Mary Martin 8-1. Buffalo Gap’s Rachel Coon, who was named the girls Shenandoah District player of the year, and Madison Benner beat Stonewall Jackson’s Lydia Foltz and Conner Shirley in a tiebreaker 13-11. Wilson’s pair then defeated Gap in the championship round 6-2, 6-2. 
The Wilson boys team, consisting of freshman Matt Harris and senior Eric Butler, started the day off with a bye, allowing the two to scope out their opponents. The Hornets then went on to defeat Buffalo Gap’s Robert Strickler and Anthony Caudell in the final round 6-2, 6-2.
The first round of the boys tourney, between No. 3 Riverheads and No. 2 Buffalo Gap, ended in an 8-5 win for the Bison.
“I say this humbly, we came out strong,” said Buffalo Gap coach Stephen Tickal. “We just finished beating Wilson and we felt that strength coming in on Riverheads.”
Owen Loney and Shenandoah District boys player of the year Isaac Howard made up the Riverheads team. The Bison twosome was more than able to handle Isaac’s strong serves and aggressive play.
“We tried to maintain a conservative approach and nail some key serves,” said Caudell.
Loney and Howard went only 1-3 in the district. However, Howard (2-2) is still competing in singles.
“Isaac handled his service games well,” said Riverheads coach Doris Scott. “We weren’t able to break serves because we didn’t volley well today. Gap played consistent tennis. They lobbied well and didn’t make many mistakes at all.”
Wilson coach, and Shenandoah District coach of the year, Ed Lovell had faith in his team.
“Our coach gives us confidence and he never doubts us,” Harris said.
The Hornets were feeling the pressure coming into the game, since the last time the two teams met didn’t end well for them.
“This game was more difficult than the others,” Butler said. “But we played pretty consistent and really concentrated on the placement.”
Wilson girls coach Marcy Baker was also named coach of the year.
When it came to the girls matches, the Bison were the underdogs and the match between them and Stonewall was a long and grueling one.
“It was nerve-racking,” Gap junior Madison Benner said. “It was kind of a roller-coaster type match, but we played together when it mattered.”
Immediately after the Bison defeated the Generals, they faced the No. 1 Hornets.
“They both have strong serves and we need to keep it away from the net,” Gap junior Rachael Coon said before the final match.
But the Bison failed to heed their own advice. The Hornets’ star junior pair, Christine Coffield and Jamie Stark, attacked the net.
“We’re really aware of what is going on on the court,” Coffield said. “We back each other up and we cover each other, everything else is just luck.”
Though the twosome had a few mistakes and mishaps, they were still able to demolish the Bison team.
“They work as one,” Wilson coach Baker said of her girls. “They just really compliment each other. They were ready for this.”
Both Wilson teams will have home-court advantage at Regionals on May 24.