From staff reports
Twenty-one county tennis players have qualified for regional play that begins today and ends Saturday.
* In 2A, Salisbury has six players in the field. Hannah Lebowitz is going for her third regional singles title and fourth regional title overall. Joy Loeblein is also in the singles field. Erika Nelson-Katelyn Storey and Anna Page-Sierra Davis are involved in doubles. The tournament is being held in Salisbury.
* In 1A, all six of North Rowan’s normal starters qualified for the tournament in Biscoe. Corbin Bennett and Diamond Jackson made it in singles, but both are dealing with injuries. The doubles teams of Kelli Berry-Caitlin Crawford and Kayla Morgan-Haley Ridenhour made it.
* In 3A, three county schools will be represented in Charlotte: East Rowan (Megan Bullins-Kayela Wilson in doubles), Carson (Kelly Dulkoski and Carol Brown in singles, Hannah Shinn-Jada Holloway in doubles) and West Rowan (Madison Rusher in singles, Sarah Teel-Kate Ritchie in doubles).A.L. Brown’s double team of Kaylan Stamey-Ashlyn Doby is also in the 3A field.
– Prep volleyball
Carson opens the 3A volleyball state playoffs with a match at Waxhaw Marvin Ridge on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Carson (21-5) finished third in the NPC and was runner-up in the league tournament. The Cougars are the first Carson athletic team to win 20 times in a season.
Carson volleyball is in the state playoffs for the first time in school history. All five of the Cougars’ losses have been to West Iredell or North Iredell.
“We’re in a stacked conference, but that’s lucky,” Carson senior Shanna Stewart said. “We won’t be shocked by anybody we see in the playoffs.”
Directions to Marvin Ridge (2825 Crane Road, Waxhaw, 28173). Take I-85 South to 485. Take 485 to the Providence Road Exit. Turn left on Providence Road. Follow Providence to Rea Road. Turn right on Rea to first light. Turn left on Crane Road. School will be on the left.
– Middle schools
West Rowan’s eighth-grade football team won 44-0 against China Grove. Keyows Weeks had touchdown runs of 20 and 75 yards for West (5-1). Derrick Fortson scored on an 8-yard run and a 45-yard fumble return.
Michael Pinkston (3 yards) and Broderick Avery (47 yards) also had touchdown runs. Weeks, Malik Crudup and Daisean Reddick (twice) scored on two-point conversion runs.
Jake Kennedy, Jesse Moore, Teoz Mauney, Trey Brawley and Parrish Poteat played well on the offensive line.
West’s defense, led by Fortson, Crudup, Weeks, Nick Collins, Jacob Steele and Jesse Moore, held China Grove (2-4) to two first downs.
West faces Southeast on Tuesday.
* Erwin’s eighth-graders defeated Knox 42-22 on Wednesday. Tre Gillespie had TD runs of 50 and 60 yards for the Eagles (2-4). Marshall Shank scored on runs of 15 and 40 yards. Seth Wyrick scored on a 15-yard run, while Sam Wyrick had a 1-yard TD.
Sam Wyrick threw two conversion passes to Jack Weisensel and another to Colton Trexler.
Cody Mabe and Steven Ward recovered fumbles Seth Wyrick and Jacob Broughton made interceptions. Other Erwin standouts included Daniel Jones, Robert Bassinger, Austin Owens, Joshua Smith, Jake Boltz and Connor Stillson.
– Long ace at Corbin
Robin Benson recently recorded a hole-in-one on the 296-yard, par-4 No. 10 hole at Corbin Hills. He used a driver.
The rare feat was witnessed by Greg Hipp, Brent Watson and Brandon Kepley.
– Jayvee football
West Rowan clinched the NPC crown with Thursday’s 28-7 win against East Rowan.
Connor Edwards passed 11 yards to Taylor Garczynski for a West TD. Brandon Ijames scored on a 7-yard run. Andrew Garrison tallied on a 30-yard burst. Trey Cuthbertson returned a punt 40 yards to score for the Falcons (8-1).
Dalton Bost scored the East TD on a 50-yard run.
* Salisbury won its 16th straight in the CCC by holding off Lexington 35-28 at Ludwig Stadium on Thursday.
Keion Adams scored three TDs on runs of 25, 5 and 71 yards for SHS, while Hanson Saryee scored on a 5-yard run and a 62-yard breakaway.
Salisbury trailed 16-6 before reeling off 22 unanswered points. Adams and Saryee ran for 2-point conversions. Michael Mazur kicked a PAT.
Kiero Cuthbertson intercepted a pass, while William Brown, Tion McCain and Elijah Wright made fumble recoveries for the Hornets (6-2, 3-0).
* A.L. Brown’s 17-game winning streak ended with a 28-26 loss at Hickory Ridge on Thursday.
Damien Washington had scoring runs of 5, 35 and 60 yards, while Demetrius Jackson had a late 48-yard TD to make it 28-26. Jackson was stopped inches short of the goal on a 2-point conversion that would have forced overtime.
The Wonders (7-1) rushed for 228 yards and passed for 80.
They held a 20-7 lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Ragin’ Bulls scored on a pick-6, a long pass and a drive to take a 26-20 edge.