Edenton Holmes girls tennis coach Dr. Allen Hornthal told his aptly nicknamed Aces last week that their winning streak was two matches.
The program had won 112 consecutive conference girls tennis matches, but he asked the players if they wanted to take credit for the previous 110 wins even though they had not personally contributed to the wins. No, they agreed, they had helped win two matches.
Hornthal, a dentist who is a high school tennis coaching institution in the community, thus prepared his club for Thursday's 7-2 Northeastern Coastal 2-A loss to Elizabeth City Northeastern. The setback ended a streak that began in 2001.
"The string was going to end sometime; all good things come to an end," Hornthal said Tuesday morning. "I knew Northeastern was very good. We beat them 6-3 and 5-4 last year, and they had most of their girls back. We have six new starters."
Among the Holmes graduates was Elizabeth Leary, a three-time regional champ.
"I wanted our girls to know that they shouldn't feel the weight of the winning streak," Hornthal said.
Edenton Holmes is one of the smallest 2-A schools in the state and has been known for its overall tennis program rather than for producing individual state championship contenders.
The Aces reached the 2-A dual-team semifinals a couple of times, and Tanner Bloom reached the state individual semifinals a few years ago.
"But we're better known for just having a good team," Hornthal said.
He said his team played well against Northeastern, but the Aces' inexperience showed at times.
"The streak is a tribute to a good group of girls," Hornthal said. "It was quite a ride."
Garner honors past: Garner High has selected the inaugural five members of its Hall of Fame. The group will be introduced at the Trojans' football game against Harnett Central on Nov. 5 and will be inducted next spring.
The first class is:
Anthony Barbour, a football running back who led Garner to the 1987 state 4-A title and starred at N.C. State.
Barbara Kelly, a girls basketball player and later a coach and athletics administrator at the University of Virginia who was instrumental in starting the Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball tournament.
Hal Stewart, who built a football dynasty at Garner, including winning the state title in 1987.
Patrick Watkins, a baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Donald Williams, a boys basketball player who was the MVP of the Final Four when the North Carolina won the national title in 1993.
Falcons face test: The Durham Jordan boys soccer team is ranked No. 11 in the country in the Powerade Fab 50 ESPN Rise rankings, but it faces a challenge tonight at home against East Chapel Hill.
Jordan (5-0-1) is ranked No. 1 in The N&O top dozen, while East Chapel Hill (4-0-1) is No. 2.
Jordan is ranked No. 2 in the state behind Greensboro Page (currently No. 6 in the country) in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Poll, while East Chapel Hill is No. 9.
In another big soccer game tonight, Apex (3-1) plays at Fuquay-Varina (5-0), which has not allowed a goal this season.
Green Hope No. 2: The Green Hope girls cross country team is ranked No. 2 in the southeastern United States behind Wilmington (Del) Tatnall College Prep in the dyestate.com rankings.
The Green Hope girls were eighth in the preseason Powerade Fab 50 ESPN Rise rankings.
Williams sets record: Blake Williams of Northern Durham broke the Hope Mills South View cross country course record by 10 seconds last weekend while winning the ninth annual Jungle Run cross country race.
Blake ran a 15:07 to easily finish ahead of second-place Chris Garrett of West Johnston (15:37).
