The Heathwood Hall Highlanders, 2024 SCISA Region I-4A Champions: Leo Caplinger, Asher Zhong, Sam McCombs, Christopher Bradley, Liam Strange, Henry Morris, Head Coach Nick Gaffos, Emerson Rice, Turner Rice, Jack Morris, and Davies Roberts.
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According to some, the last time the Heathwood Hall Highlanders claimed a boys tennis region title, they raised the trophy over feathered hair and mullets and fought for their right to paaaaaaarty. No one on scene was totally sure about the last region championship or how a Beastie Boys reference made it into this article, but one thing is now certain, with a 9-0 victory over the Hammond Skyhawks on Senior Night at Heathwood Hall on April 23, the Highlanders finished undefeated in SCISA I-4A and claimed their first region title for the first time in a long time.
“This year we set a goal to win the region, and we worked hard,” said Heathwood Hall head coach Nick Gaffos. “ We won the region. I’ve been here seven years—this is the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve won the region. I think maybe since ’86. So it’s been a long time, but I’m proud of my players. They worked hard. They came together and really worked hard together.”
Heathwood Hall’s six seniors claimed seven of the nine wins against the Skyhawks. Emerson Rice beat Hammond’s Joseph Seiner 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles. Heathwood No. 3 Henry Morris downed Shaarav Peddiniti 6-1, 6-1. At No. 5 singles, Heathwood’s Liam Strange bested Wyatt Queen 6-2, 6-1, and Christopher Bradley was able to take down Hammond No. 6 Nick Sailer 6-1, 6-2.
Heathwood Hall’s Christopher Bradley hits a backhand in his No. 6 singles match against Hammond’s Nick Sailer.
Emerson Rice and Bradley teamed up at No. 1 doubles to beat Hammond’s Seiner and Peddeniti 8-2. Senior Sam McCombs came over from the Heathwood theater department in character sporting a handlebar mustache and joined Strange to beat Hammond’s Parsa Adhami and Aiden Carter 8-3 at No. 2 doubles. Another Heathwood senior, Davies Roberts, partnered with Jack Morris to win 8-2 at No. 3 doubles.
Other Heathwood winners included Turner Rice at No. 2 singles, who beat Adhami 6-1, 6-1, and Leo Caplinger, who beat Carter 6-2, 6-1.
The Highlanders host Spartanburg Day School April 25 and then they turn their attention to the playoffs.
Heathwood Hall’s Emerson Rice hits a forehand in his No. 1 singles match against Hammond’s Joseph Seiner.
“Like I tell them, you just have to go out there and play and practice hard,” Gaffos said of the upcoming tournament. “Believe in what we work on and believe in yourself. That’s the main thing. Good things happen when you believe in yourself.”
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