Catholic's Kyle Johnson makes history as first four-time N.C. tennis champ

Charlotte's Kyle Johnson is the only player in NCHSAA history to win four consecutive state men's singles titles. Staff file photo, David T. Foster III-dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

BURLINGTON - Kyle Johnson of Charlotte Catholic made history on Saturday in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A men's tennis championships at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Johnson became the only player to win four consecutive men's singles titles in NCHSAA history, taking the championship with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Matt Daly of Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons. Johnson had defeated Eric Greene of Western Alamance in straight sets in a morning semifinal.

On eight occasions, a men's player has won at least three singles crowns, counting Johnson entering this championship. Will Rollinson of Cardinal Gibbons had the most recent accomplishment of that feat, winning titles from 2006-08 in the 2-A classification.

The Charlotte Catholic star lost only one set in four years of competition at the regional and state tournament level, and his overall high school career record in singles is an amazing 89-7.

In doubles, the Statesville duo of Parks Thompson and Julian Hawkins took the state championship with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Killian Steer and Matt Galush of Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons.


NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

3A State Men's Tennis Championships

Burlington Tennis Center, Burlington

Saturday's Results

SINGLES SEMIFINALS

Matt Daly (Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons) def. Chaz Fitzpatrick (Eastern Wayne) 6-1, 6-0; Kyle Johnson (Charlotte Catholic) def. Eric Greene (Western Alamance) 6-1, 6-4.

SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Johnson (Charlotte Catholic) def. Daly (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-3, 6-4.

DOUBLES SEMIFINALS

Killian Steer-Matt Galush (Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons) def. Matthew Martinez-Zach Sachee (Charlotte Catholic) 6-3, 6-0; Parks Thompson-Julian Hawkins (Statesville) def. Tito Poplawski-David Howerton (Asheville) 6-3, 6-0.

DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Thompson-Hawkins (Statesville) def. Steer-Galush (Cardinal Gibbons) 6-2, 6-3.