Chris Cox covers high school sports and tennis in Beaufort County. | Championships have been rolling in of late for the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy.
Headlining the winners was Hilton Head Christian Academy standout Hampton Drake, who transitioned into the boys 18 and under division in style at his first Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated from Sept. 7-10 in Memphis, Tenn.
The Eagle claimed the title in the 18's after defeating Christian Garay 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 in the semifinals before taking down Will Showers in the championship match. Drake claimed the first set 6-0 before Showers retired with an injury.
Smith Stearns' success continued at the Van der Meer Junior Classic on Hilton Head Island from Sept. 14-16, where 37 students all took home titles. Below is a list of the Smith Stearns winners.
B16 Champion – Sean Sculley
B14 Champion – Alex Sklizovic
G18 Champion – Kennedy Shaffer
G16 Champion – Alli Burak
G 14 Champion – Catie Meighan
B18 Doubles Champions – Matt Bishop & Jiri Honajzer
B16 Doubles Champions – Sean Sculley & Alex Vanezis
G12 Doubles Champion – Raluca Velcu
B18 Finalist – Matt Bishop
G14 Finalist – Katie Rankin
G12 Finalist – Sara McClure
B18 Doubles Finalists – Colby Burke & Perry Williams
B16 Doubles Finalists – Mitchell Brockmann & Amit Kohli
B12 Doubles Finalist – Conrad Alford
B10 Doubles Finalist – Will Henry Alford
G18 Doubles Finalist – Barbara Rodriguez
G14 Doubles Finalists – Catie Meighan & Katie Rankin
G12 Doubles Finalists – Mary Grace Armistead & McKenzie Daniel
B12 Consolation Champion – Jack Armistead
G16 Consolation Champion – Ariel Shulman
G12 Consolation Champion – Grace Kennedy
B18 Consolation Finalist – Perry Williams
B10 Consolation Finalist – Will Henry Alford
G18 Consolation Finalist – Mary Hampton McNeal
G16 Consolation Finalist – Mary Ann Aaron
G12 Consolation Finalist – Mary Grace Armistead