Godwin, Deep Run advance to Group AAA boys tennis final

NEWPORT NEWS -- The Mills Godwin and Deep Run boys tennis teams can hardly be more equal.

When the two Colonial District teams met during the regular season, Deep Run won 5-4. It was the first time Deep Run had beaten Mills Godwin.

The Eagles turned the tables in the Central Region team final, winning 5-4 in match that took a couple of days to complete.

They play the rubber match today, 90 minutes from western Henrico County, in the Virginia High School League Group AAA team final at Huntington Park in Newport News. Start time is noon.

Each team took about 75 minutes to post 5-0 victories in yesterday's semifinals against Virginia Beach opponents. Mills Godwin (20-1) beat Frank Cox; Deep Run (18-1) sent Princess Anne packing.

The last time the Eagles won the state championship was 2005 when they defeated Douglas Freeman. They also beat the Rebels in the 2002 and 2003 finals. Mills Godwin lost to James Robinson in the final in 2006 and again last year in an epic match that went to the third set of the No. 3 doubles.

Deep Run is in the final for the first time.

"I think we should do it in Richmond, but we'll have to put on a show for the people down here," Mills Godwin senior Kyle Parker said. "It's going to be tight. It's going to come down to who's having a good day."

Said Eagles coach Tom Hoy, "You can look at every spot and make the reasonable assumption that either could win the point."

How badly does Deep Run want to win?

"I want that state title really bad," Wildcats' No. 4 Stephon Hinds said. "I want to give the seniors that ring."

The Eagles have more seniors who want the ring just as much, but as Hinds says, "I think we're way too hungry."

Wildcats coach Salman Parvaiz sees the final as a "perfect match-up. The team that comes to play, the team that is more focused, will win. But I've been telling the guys, it's more than about winning. It's about winning and losing, the two imposters I call them, and doing it appropriately. Being humble."

The Wildcats are younger than the Eagles and have more players returning next year. Their future looks good.

"This group of seniors hasn't won a state title. We'd like to do it for the seniors," Hoy said. "With what Deep Run has returning, I'd like to have the torch before we might have to pass it on the next couple of years."

Mills Godwin 5, Frank Cox 0

Singles: Kyle Parker d. Ian Fraser 6-1, 7-5; Kevin McMillen 6-2, 6-3; Michael Baxter 6-1, 6-2; Michael Holt 6-0, 6-0; Zack King vs. Carter Ferguson, dnf; Anthony Pelesis d. Conner Fanney 6-2, 6-1
Deep Run 5, Princess Anne 0

Singles: Hunter Koontz d. Grant Cutchin 6-0, 6-1; Evan Charles d. Connor Hoerr 6-1, 6-1; Glenn Diersen d. Kevin Garcia 6-2, 6-4; Stephon Hinds d. Sam Stearney 6-3, 6-2; Phillip Mosberg vs. Eric Solis, dnf; Jake Fratkin d. Joey Farino 6-0, 6-0.