Four North Pike tennis players will be competing in the 4A State Tournament in Oxford May 9-11 after qualifying at the district tournament in Hattiesburg April 18.
Sophomore Jacob Johnson was the district champion at boys singles with 6-0, 6-0 and 6-2, 6-2 victories against Purvis. He earned a first round bye.
Senior Sarah McMillan also earned a first round bye for girls singles and beat Purvis 6-1, 6-0 and Columbia 6-4, 6-1.
Sophomore Allie Grace Terrell and eighth grader Madison Munson were the runners-up at No. 2 girls doubles after beating Purvis 6-1, 6-1.
Johnson has been to the state tournament the past three years, but lost in the first round every time. His first two years, he played No. 1 doubles with Will Pennington, who just completed his sophomore year at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
“I’m a better player this year,” Johnson said. “If I play, I can go as far as I want to. I play to the best of my abilities.
“My forehand and my serve are my two weapons that have improved probably most of all from last season.”
Johnson said the experience of falling short in past years made him see if he does not play well in the state tournament, he could come home after the first round.
McMillan has been to the state tournament twice, but has also not made it past the first round.
“This year, I feel like it’s more on me,” she said. “It’s not really a team effort. I feel like I’ll have a better chance because I don’t feel like I’m going to mess up and hurt the other person and the other person hurt me.”
McMillan played girls doubles as a sophomore and mixed doubles with Johnson as a junior. She switched to singles to prepare herself to play junior college tennis next season. She will be attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
“It was more for the experience because I am going to play for college,” she said. “It was more for having the girls doubles experience, the mixed doubles experience and singles.”
Although McMillan is experienced in state competition, she said she wishes there was not so much time between the district and state tournaments.
“I think I still have the butterflies,” she said. “In fact, I wish state would be like tomorrow, so I could just get in there. Three weeks is definitely too long.”
Terrell and Munson are a team for the first time.
Both No. 2 girls doubles players said Munson is better at ground strokes while Terrell is better at the net.
Munson has played tennis for four years, but this is her first season at North Pike. She played at Parklane Academy and Fernwood Country Club.
“I’m really nervous, but I think we’ll do really good,” Munson said about going to state.
She also said it was a good move to transfer to North Pike.
“I’ve liked it a lot,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of new people.”
Munson said her goal is to play tennis for Southern Miss because she went to summer camp there, met Golden Eagles head coach Dominic Modise and several players.
Terrell is in her first year of playing tennis, but Munson helped her learn the game. Terrell and Munson became friends this year.
“I’ve liked it a lot,” Terrell said. “I’ve grown to like it since I’ve started playing.”
Terrell said she plans to play tennis throughout her high school career. She acknowledged the state tournament would be a big challenge.
“I’m excited and a little scared,” Terrell said. “The players are going to be a lot better than what was in our district.”
