Jeff Linville/The News
Mount Airy’s Jordan Lawson (hitting a volley) and Mitch Kessler made the Northwest All-Conference Team for the second time.
Jeff Linville/The News
Surry Central’s Luke Haymore, seen hitting a return against the Bears, was one of six local players to repeat on the first team.
Three men tied for coach of the year in tennis as Mount Airy’s Matt Kessler took player of the year honors.
The Northwest Conference released its all-conference team which showed a three-way tie in the coach award: Drew Belton, North Surry; Rodney Pell, Mount Airy; and Bishop McGuinness’ Bob Weckworth.
Belton, in his second year at North Surry, led the Greyhounds to a 6-6 record and the Northwest’s top 2A finish.
Pell took over a good returning Bears team and led it to 10-2 mark with its only losses to Bishop.
Weckworth posted an undefeated conference season and at press time was still alive in the 1A dual-team playoffs.
Kessler won the 1A conference and regional tournaments and was undefeated in the regular season. He also won the 1A conference tournament and player of the year award last season.
He was joined on the first team by his younger brother Mitch and senior Jordan Lawson, the Bears second and third seeds for singles and the 1A conference doubles champions.
Surry Central had two players on the first team, while East Surry and North Surry had one each.
Luke Haymore and Colby Chilton were the Eagles’ top two singles players and their top doubles team.
East’s Tyler Yandell was the Cardinals’ top seed and advanced to the semifinals of the 1A conference tournament.
Brandon Orndorff was North Surry’s top seed. He and partner Austin Barker won the 2A side of the conference doubles tournament.
Several local players repeated on the first team this season. Also making the list last year were Matt and Mitch Kessler, Lawson, Orndorff, Yandell and Haymore.
With its undefeated conference season, Bishop got all six starters on the first team: Kevin Weckworth, Naveed Foroudi, Lane Kiser, Conor Wilson, Michael Domabyl and Alex Gundlach.
South Stokes sophomore Ephraim Harrell made the team for the second time.
West Stokes’ Lucas Shelton made the first team and repeated as 2A conference singles champion.
The honorable mentions included East’s Brody Gentry and Cody Moser, North’s Samuel Holder and Austin Barker, and Mount Airy’s Taylor Bobbitt and Will Pfitzner.
Also on the second team were Bishop’s John Abram and Zack Jones and West Stokes’ Andrew Holmes.
Reach Jeff Linville at jlinville@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1920.
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