黑料社入口

The Myrtle Beach boys tennis team is returning to the state title match for the first time since 2019.

The Seahawks defeated Beaufort 6-0 Wednesday, keeping their undefeated season alive.

鈥淟ast year we thought we should鈥檝e been there," senior Rivers Cahill said. "[We] had a couple guys lose that we thought shouldn鈥檛 have lost, just tough. But it feels good to be back.鈥�

Following Elliott Finger鈥檚 clinching point, coach Alec Marinaro rushed the court with his players and joined the celebration.

鈥淚 just love these boys honestly,鈥� Marinaro said.

The Seahawks started off the lower state championship strong and never looked back, which fits the theme for this year鈥榮 team. Now at 22-0 on the year, Myrtle Beach has blown through the competition this season, only needing to play a decisive seventh game once.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really good at the bottom of the lineup,鈥� Cahill said. 鈥淭hose guys always get us rolling early.鈥�

He added that seeing his teammates succeed early gives him confidence. It鈥檚 a confidence that is easily recognizable to Marinaro.

鈥淚t makes me emotional how locked in they are,鈥� Marinaro said. 鈥淓ven when they take it to a third, tiebreaker set in their own match, they know what to do. Most of the time when I walk up to them, I don鈥檛 have to say anything.鈥�

Finger is one of those players. He had to make a comeback in his first set and force a tiebreaker to clinch an early lead.

鈥淚 just feel like I鈥檓 a very momentum-type person, and when I get my momentum and I get my confidence, I really start playing my best tennis,鈥� Finger said.

To say the last four years for Myrtle Beach boys tennis has been a roller coaster would be an understatement. In 2019, the program's beloved head coach Rivers Lynch died late in the season. The team went on to win the program鈥檚 first state championship in a decade.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season and the Seahawks' first real chance at a state title defense was upended by South Aiken in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss at home last season.

鈥淐oming back, we knew what we had to do,鈥� Marinaro said. 鈥淲e had just so much experience on our team and so much talent. They knew they could do it.鈥�

Since the heartbreaking loss last season, Cahill said he has put in work in the weight room, bulking up and preparing for his final year of high school tennis.

鈥淚鈥檝e been playing two to four hours a day, about four to five days a week, just trying to get ready to play the grown adults next year,鈥� Cahill said, referring to his commitment to play college tennis at Coastal Carolina University.

After starting his freshman year of high school with a ring, Cahill is hoping to putting one more on his hand Saturday.

鈥淚t would be a dream,鈥� he said.

The Seahawks will face the winner of Dreher-Greenwood Saturday in the Class 4A state championship in Florence.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it will matter,鈥� Finger said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l pull through.鈥�

First serve at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday.