BSHS Indians capture first Tennis Regional Championship, left to righ, Ryan Fincham, Assistant Coach, Haden Fincham, Ben Michael, Dylan Carder, Jackson Heath, Matthew Rubeck, Josiah Kolwaski and Raynette Mock, Head Coach.
by Jamie Harris
It is a well-known fact that the Berkeley Springs High School boys and girls tennis programs do not have the best facilities to practice at. To top that all the matches the tennis team has to play are road trips that stretch from the Eastern Panhandle all the way to the Northern Panhandle and into Maryland as well. So with limited practice facilities and no home court advantages what does the Tribe do? Go out and win the first ever Class AA Region I Tennis Regional Boys’ Team Championship in school history.
Early Thursday, May 2 the teams left for the regional tournament held in Fairmont. Over the course of two days with an ending on Saturday, May 4 at 1 a.m., the boy’s tennis program was able to take the team title. Led by freshman Haden Fincham who captured the #1 singles regional title and then teamed up with senior Matthew Rubeck to capture the #1 doubles regional title.
Rubeck also captured the regional championship at the #2 singles as well. Senior Dylan Carder took home second place in #3 singles and then teamed with senior Ben Michael to finish in second place at #2 doubles.
The #3 doubles team of Josiah Kowalski and Jackson Heath also contributed to the team win with an opening round win in the #3 doubles match.
Fincham, Rubeck, Carder, & Michael all qualified for the state championship tournament.
On the girls side the Lady Indians #1 singles senior Dalas Carder finished in fourth place to qualify for the state tournament.
Junior and #2 singles Leah Reed finished in second place in #2 singles and then teamed with Kennedy Shives to finish in second place in #2 doubles.
Natalie Hashem played well for Berkeley Springs at the #3 singles but fell short of qualifying for the state tournament.
Earlier that week Berkeley Springs defeated Musselman 6-1 in the boys match up. The girls lost 4-3 to Musselman.
The team traveled to Charleston Wednesday, May 8 for the Class AA State Tennis Championships.
