While Ethan Lyon and Houston Callaway took the first set from top-seeded Nicholas John and Dusty Roberson by a 6-4 score, their Mount Airy opponents rallied for a 6-4, 6-2 triumph in the next two sets to swipe the title.
John and Roberson played against each in last year's 1A doubles state title match -- who partners who have since graduated -- so that shows the caliber of tennis Lyon and Callaway rose to in their conference finale.
The East Wilkes duo still earned a 1A Western Regional berth as the result of Thursday's runner-up finish and could see John and Roberson again next weekend in Gastonia.
Taylor Ward of East Wilkes also made the regional field by virtue of making the semifinals in singles. Ward was finally ousted in a tightly contested semifinal match against Mount Airy's Brooks Mayberry, who won 6-4, 6-3.
"I am very proud of Taylor, Ethan, and Houston," East coach Aaron Simmons said. "They all played at a high level throughout the tournament. We are disappointed that we weren't able to walk away as the tournament winners. However, we plan on improving over
the next week and hopefully contending for a regional championship next weekend."
Lyon and Callaway had to rally themselves just to make Thursday's semifinals. The duo lost the first set 6-2 in the quarterfinals against Trey Cheek and John Curnes of Bishop McGuinness. But they recovered nicely to finish off the Villains 6-3, 6-2.
The East Wilkes pair beat Alleghany's Logan Oliver and Cody Miller 6-3, 7-5 in the semis. In their first match Wednesday, Lyon and Callaway swept Chris O'Rourke and Jonathan Mickels of Bishop 6-0, 6-0.
Elkin's Sarang Shah and Tyler Smith were on the other side of the doubles semifinal bracket. The duo beat Matt Childress and Jaymatt Marshall of South Stokes 6-4, 6-0 in their opener, then polished off Alleghany's Bobby Calhoun and Ben Calhoun 6-1 and 6-3 in the quarters.
Shah and Smith ran into a buzzsaw, though, in their semifinal match-up with Roberson and John. Roberson's booming serve and the Mount Airy duo's net play pushed the Granite Bears to a 6-0, 6-0 triumph.
"That was the best I've seen them play," Elkin coach Ray Fencl said of the Mount Airy opponents.
Ward beat Elkin's Tanner Hardy in the opening round of singles 6-0, 6-0. He then dispatched of Bradley Corum of South Stokes 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semifinals.
Jeremy Bauguess of East Wilkes lost his opener to Joseph Riazzi of Bishop 6-0, 6-4. John Caudle of Elkin fell in the first round as well, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Mount Airy's Chance Hall, who went on make the semifinals. Caleb Shelton of South Stokes defeated Mayberry for the Northwest 1A singles crown.
The No. 2 doubles teams from Elkin and East Wilkes both fell in round one. Schon Reece and Andrew Reece of Elkin lost a three-setter (7-6, 2-6, 1-6) to Mount Airy's Nathan Hagar and Alex Ilyasov.
Lariat Hemric and Mitchell Welborn of East fell to Bruce and Brendan Cain of Bishop McGuinness 6-0, 6-0.
Elkin, Mount Airy and East Wilkes have had a strong tennis tradition for years, and that should continue in the 1A ranks again as this season plays out over the next few weeks.
Mount Airy, state dual-team champs in 2005 and 2006, could contend for that honor again this season. John and Roberson are among the favorites to take the doubles title, though Callaway and Lyon showed Thursday they could give the Mount Airy tandem a run.
"I can't remember the last time someone from the Northwest 1A didn't win a state championship," Fencl said.
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