Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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AUGUST 29-SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Terry Sanford tennis strong but Cape Fear making noise by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Cape Fear golf poised to better historic run by EARL VAUGHAN JR. To hear that Terry Sanford is the favorite to win this year's Patriot Athletic Conference girls tennis title is no surprise. But league teams may be a little more con- cerned when they hear head coach Mandy McMillan's assessment of her 2018 squad. "These girls came back and shocked me this year when we did challenge matches,'' she said. "My whole team is strong. I don't have a weak link. I'd put them up against anybody in the conference.'' The Bulldogs will be led at first court by Ritika Shamdasani, who said she thrives on the support of McMillan and her teammates during matches and practices. On the court, Shamdasani said, she tries to focus on playing her game and not get caught up in trying to emulate moves that her opponents are using. "You have to stay true to your game and how you play,'' Shamdasani said. "That's usually what wins matches.'' Shamdasani said the strength of her game is serv- ing. She's been consistent and powerful in this area. McMillan thinks if there is a conference team that could give Terry Sanford a run for its money, it's Cape Fear, led by No. 1 singles player Chloe Arnette. Arnette already beat Shamdasani in their first match this season, 6-3, 6-3. "Chloe is a tough competitor,'' McMillan said of Arnette. "That was a win well deserved.'' Cape Fear finished second to Terry Sanford a year ago, losing only to the Bulldogs in conference play. "This year, our goal is to be as competitive as possi- ble with Terry Sanford,'' Colt coach Chris Lucas said. Arnette, who first took up tennis as something to keep her in shape for basketball, is now looking to tennis as the sport she'd like to play in college. "I feel my strength is my athleticism,'' she said. "And I'm a really strong competitor. I analyze what I need to do better to win the next point.'' But, she said, her main focus is having fun. "You have to have fun. It's the key to playing.'' Arnette has advanced to North Carolina High School Athletic Association regional play in doubles all three of her years at Cape Fear. She's undecided this year if she'd like to make a final try at a doubles title or pursue the chance to play for a singles championship. She said she'll decide which way she plays based on if she's doing better in singles or doubles when the time comes to make the decision. Coming off the best girls golf season in Cape Fear High School history, coach Todd Edge said he looks at the 2018 campaign with cautious optimism. Among the biggest reasons for Edge's posi- tive outlook is the return of Toni Blackwell, who dominated individual play in the Patriot Athletic Conference last season. She was the only player in the conference to break 80 for the season, averaging 78.6 during the seven regular-season matches. Blackwell helped lead the Colts to their first-ever North Carolina High School Athletic Association regional title and was one of five Colts who qualified for last year's state 3-A tournament. "I think she's tournament ready,'' Edge said of Blackwell. "She's working on her game and chang- ing her swing.'' The swing change is a work in progress and could cause Blackwell some problems early in this year's high school season as she continues to adjust. "Her swing coach has promised her in a couple of months she will see some results that will give her more distance and accuracy,'' Edge said. Blackwell spent the summer taking part in many tournaments. "I worked on my mental game, staying focused, improved my game in all aspects,'' she said. One of the biggest areas she felt she improved in was scrambling when she fails to make greens in regulation – being able to focus when she has a bad hole so she can get out with at worst a bogey. "My goal this year is to get my average down to 75, win the regionals and finish top five at state,'' she said. "I want to defend our conference champion- ship, defend our regional championship and get five girls to states again.'' Edge expects Blackwell to get support from teammates Mary Catherine Hales, Gabby Bynum, Madison Burrell and Jaclyn Daniels. "Mary Catherine has been hitting it well so far in practice,'' Edge said. "Gabby was our No. 5 last year and is moving up to No. 3. Our No. 4 and No. 5, Madison and Jaclyn, have played in matches over the previous couple of years. "They are getting better, and hopefully they can help us down the road.'' Chloe Arnette Ritika Shamdasani Mandy McMillan Todd Edge Toni Blackwell PRESENT OUR WEEKLY LINE UP CAPE FEAR HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 7-8pm @ 301 Wingz, 407 Eastern Blvd Airing on WCLN 105.7FM Bill Boyette w/ Coach Jacob Thomas TERRY SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ Sammio's, 2623 Raeford Rd Airing on WFNC AM640 Trey Edge w/ Coach Bruce McClellan MONDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 FRIDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 WEDNESDAY August 31st Coaches Corner Airing on105.7FM/WFNC AM640 all starting @ 6:00pm Followed by LIVE to The Fields @ 7:00pm New Hanover HS @ Cape Fear HS on 105.7FM Kick off @ 7:30pm Cleveland HS @ Terry Sanford HS on AM640 Kick off @ 7:30pm Ending with Postgame Scoreboard w/ Sonny Jones 6-8pm