Highland Tech girls tennis dynamo Madison Darnell makes history with NCHSAA state title

Madison Darnell made Gaston County history Saturday, becoming the first tennis player to claim a NCHSAA state individual title.

Darnell earned the 1A girls singles title at Cary Tennis Park, downing Manya Nallagangu of NC School of Sciences and Mathematics (NCSSM Morganton) in straight sets (7-5, 6-2).

Darnell didn’t drop a set en route to her title win. In addition to Nallagangu, the Highland Tech sophomore defeated Chatham Charter’s Elphie Spillman (6-3, 6-1) as well as teammate Katelin Vaher (6-0, 6-1) in the semifinal round.

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As Highland Tech’s No. 1 player, Darnell has won 15 of 16 matches played. South Point’s Lauren Lucas is responsible for her only loss, winning in three sets (3-6, 6-1, 10-8).

Darnell is also chasing team gold, No. 3 Highland Tech traveling to second-ranked Gray Stone Day in the 1A duals tournament’s regional semifinal round.

Forestview’s Rennie Liu came one set from joining Darnell in history books. The Jaguars’ senior standout finished as 3A state runner-up, falling to Rocky Mount’s McKinley Battle in the singles final. She defeated Fike’s Holland Ellis (6-0, 6-4), Terry Sanford’s Anne Lieberman (6-1, 6-3) and Carrboro’s Emma Shriver (6-1, 6-1) during the weekend’s activities at Burlington Tennis Center.

Here is how other area players fared at their respective state tournament

Singles

• Emma Carver, North Lincoln: Won her 3A first-round match over Fike’s Kaden Biamby (6-0, 6-0), before losing in three sets to Lake Norman Charter’s Luci Falls (1-6, 6-3, 7-5).

• Lauren Lucas, South Point: Won her 3A first-round match against Hunt’s Reagan Owens in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) before falling to Carrboro’s Emma Shriver (6-2, 6-0).

• Anna Schweppe, Shelby: Won 6-2, 6-1 over Holmes’ Ellie Spear in the 2A state tournament before bowing out in Round 2 to Research Triangle’s Olivia Hankinson in straight sets.

• Karsyn Sink, East Lincoln: Won 6-3, 7-6 in a 3A first-round match against Edith Young of J.H. Rose before falling to Rocky Mount’s Battle (6-1, 6-1).

Doubles

• Mackenzie Pendleton and Zoe McCoy, Burns: The Bulldogs’ doubles tandem won their 2A first round matchup against Natalia Buchta and Cora Walker of Manteo (6-3, 6-2), before falling in three sets to Katherine Southern and Victoria Zhou of Research Triangle (6-7, 7-5, 6-4).

• Natalie Gore and Lulu King, North Lincoln: Fell 6-0, 6-1 to Fike’s Caroline and Kathryn Adkins in Round 1 of the 3A doubles tournament.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA girls tennis: Highland Tech's Darnell claims 1A state gold