Davie’s rarely-challenged tennis team overmatched three opponents last week, winning 8-1 over West Forsyth, 9-0 over Glenn and 9-0 over West Rowan.

The home win over West on April 9 was Davie’s first match in 11 days – not that you could tell it. The margin was the same as it was on March 14 in Clemmons.

“We decided to give the kids a true spring break but asked them to pick up a racket on their own over the week,” coach Shane Nixon said. “Clearly the message got through. I simply do not think we could play better than we did today.”

The winners in singles were Ben Fleming (6-2, 6-1), Parker Froelich (6-1, 6-3), Ben Marklin (7-6, 6-1), Jack Nixon (6-1, 6-1) and Cren Rosenbaum (6-2, 6-3).

“The top of the lineup is hot,” he said. “Ben Fleming is starting to make his sophomore campaign a memorable one. Parker is showing why he’ll be playing college tennis at Chowan next year.    

“I probably haven’t talked enough about Ben Marklin. Ben has played from 3-6 singles and has played the 2-3 doubles spots. Ben’s play has been really at a high level. He played perhaps his best match of the year today. He and Luke (Stillson) also had a good doubles showing. Luke is back from injury now, so they should be ready to make a good run down the stretch.

“We switched Jack and Cren in the lineup – not because either had done anything to merit it either way, but rather just to give it a different look. Both responded by doing what they’ve done all year – they won.”

Chase Johnston had the only loss at No. 6 singles, but he wasn’t far from winning. The scores were 4-6, 7-5 (7-10).

“Our only loss was still something I’m proud of,” he said. “Chase has filled the gap for Luke so well. His play has been so good I almost feel bad about taking him out of the lineup. Luke has the all clear to play, but I thought the right thing to do was keep Chase in there today.”

Fleming/Froelich (8-2), Rosenbaum/Nixon (8-2) and Marklin/Stillson (8-0) swept doubles.

“Anytime you can handle West like this, it is a good thing,” he said. “To go out on the first day back and play like this? Definitely a very pleasant surprise. I’m extremely proud of this team. 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the league is a pretty good ‘rebuilding year’ – and we aren’t done yet.”

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Davie was too good for Glenn on April 11, posting a road shutout and running its CPC mark to 7-1, one match behind first-place Reagan.

“Glenn is way better than they looked against us the first time,” Nixon said. “Their No. 1 player made the regionals last year. Their No. 2 was also absent when they came to Davie County. So a 9-0 result is even better than it looks.”

Fleming (6-1, 6-3), Froelich (6-1, 6-2), Nixon (6-0, 6-0), Rosenbaum (6-0, 6-0), Marklin (6-0, 6-0) and Johnston (6-0, 6-0) breezed in singles. Nixon/Rosenbaum (8-3), Marklin/Stillson (8-0) and Mike Werbeck/Sammy Rosenquist (8-0) pounded away in doubles.

“Every single person in the lineup played well,” he said. “I’m not trying to make Glenn out to be members at Wimbledon, but they are vastly improved. For us to go to their place and play this well is just what I needed to see from this group.

“Securing a 10-win season wasn’t a team goal, but it was one I had in the back of my mind. With the schedule we have played, 10 wins is really huge.”

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The beat went on when Davie hosted West Rowan in a nonconference match on April 13. The War Eagles feasted 9-0 and improved their overall record to 11-3. They have double-figure wins for the third year in a row.

“West Rowan is second in (its) conference,” he said. “They will make the state playoffs in 3-a. This is not the West Rowan from the past. Their coach has done a great job of getting them ready to play this year. And all that said, we dropped the hammer on the Falcons.”

The wins in singles came from Fleming (8-3), Froelich (8-2), Nixon (8-0), Rosenbaum (8-0), Marklin (8-0) and Stillson (8-0). Nixon/Rosenbaum (8-3), Marklin/Stillson (8-0) and Werbeck/Rosenquist (8-7) completed the sweep in doubles.

“From our No. 1 player through all our exhibition players, we didn’t drop a single set,” he said. “It was great to get some other guys a chance to play. It was also great to get Luke back out there  (in singles).”

Davie’s No. 1 player, Fleming, sports a 10-4 record. Froelich is 11-2, Nixon 13-1, Rosenbaum 11-3, Marklin 7-7 and Stillson 5-1.