The 5A and 4A state tennis playoffs will start Oct. 20 with all three local high schools participating.
Nation Ford and Catawba Ridge will both have home matches as winners of their respective regions. The Falcons won the Region 3-5A title and the Copperheads won the Region 3-4A title. Fort Mill, who came in second behind Nation Ford will open the playoffs on the road. Both the 4A and 5A state title matches are Oct. 31 at the Florence Tennis Center.
The Falcons, who finished the regular season with an 8-1 record will open at home against Wade Hampton. Catawba Ridge, who finished the regular season with an 10-2-1 record will open at home against Eastside. Fort Mill, who finished with an 11-2-1 record, will travel to Spartanburg for their first-round match.
In the 4A bracket, if Catawba Ridge wins, they will face the winner of A.C. Flora and Pickens. The Copperheads have home court advantage through the first two rounds.
The 5A bracket has Nation Ford taking on the winner of Mauldin and Northwestern in the second round. The Falcons have home court advantage through the Upper State championship. Fort Mill would take on the winner of the Blythewood and JL Mann match. If Blythewood wins, Fort Mill would stay on the road in the second round, but if JL Mann wins, Fort Mill would have a home match.
Fort Mill finished off its regular season last Thursday with a 6-0 win over York. Winning for the Jackets in that match was No. 1 singles Madison McCarty (6-1, 6-0), No. 2 singles Katie Pierson (6-0, 6-0), No. 3 Sophie Bennett (6-2, 6-0), No. 4 singles Rachel Templeton (6-1, 6-1) and No. 5 singles Bristol Kershaw (6-2, 6-2). Clara Lake and Katie Hill teamed up in No. 2 doubles to win 6-1, 6-1.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
