Franklin Academy’s boys tennis team won its first N.C. High School Athletic Association state championship on Monday, and they did it by beating the reigning state champions.

The Patriots won five of six singles matches to beat Pine Lake Prep 5-1 at the Burlington Tennis Center in their first appearance in a dual-team championship.

Alphonso Sison was named the most valuable player of the championship after winning the No. 1 singles match over Jackson Grathwohl in a tiebreaker — 6-3, 4-6 (10-8).

That wasn’t the only close match though. Pine Lake Prep got its sole point in the No. 3 singles match as Heath Fry beat Nick DeLisio 3-6, 6-4 (13-11) in a tiebreaker.

Every other singles match went to the Patriots. Derek Shute beat Dylan Patel in the No. 2 singles, Tanner Collins beat Gavin Nazir in No. 4 singles, Akil Vinodh beat Matthew Morgan in No. 5 singles, and Hudson Collins beat Austin Eide in No. 6 singles.

This was the third straight appearance in a dual-team championship for Pine Lake Prep. The Pride have finished as the runner-up five times.

At the championship, the NCHSAA recognized one athlete from each team with the sportsmanship award. Tanner Collins won the award for Franklin Academy, while Gavin Nazir took the award for Pine Lake Prep.

Box Score: Franklin Academy 5, Pine Lake Prep 1

Singles Matches

#1 — Alphonso Sison (Franklin Academy) def. Jackson Grathwohl (Pine Lake Prep) 6-3, 4-6 (10-8)

#2 — Derek Shute (Franklin Academy) def. Dylan Patel (Pine Lake Prep) 6-0, 6-2

#3 — Heath Fry (Pine Lake Prep) def. Nick DeLisio (Franklin Academy) 3-6, 6-4 (13-11)

#4 — Tanner Collins (Franklin Academy) def. Gavin Nazir (Pine Lake Prep) 6-3, 6-2

#5 — Akil Vinodh (Franklin Academy) def. Matthew Morgan (Pine Lake Prep) 6-3, 6-4

#6 — Hudson Collins (Franklin Academy) def. Austin Eide (Pine Lake Prep) 6-1, 6-1

2A Dual-Team Championship MVP — Alphonso Sison (Franklin Academy)

Sportsmanship Award — Tanner Collins (Franklin Academy) & Gavin Nazir (Pine Lake Prep)

Source: highschoolot.com