By Sara Page, Midlothian Exchange
spage@midlothianexchange.com

Cosby freshman Brett Moorhead and junior Tyler Carey are one and two on the boys’ varsity tennis team for a reason.

Carey, who won the Dominion District singles title his freshman and sophomore years, entered the season as the early favorite to win the title again.

Moorhead, an up-and-comer from the local tennis scene, quickly established himself in the district and on the team and became part of an unstoppable doubles duo with Carey during the season.

So it was no surprise when the two walked onto the court on Saturday, facing each other in the district singles’ final, nor was it surprising that each point became a battle and that the match went to three sets for a decision. Moorhead took the Dominion District singles title with a 2-1 win over Carey.

After three hours of play, one could almost hear the mournful whistle of the main theme from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” playing somewhere in the distance as the pair set up for the deciding set. Moorhead, his light blue shirt visibly darkened and sticking to his back, awaited the serve from Carey, who kept a towel nearby to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Carey got ahead early behind his serves and his wide shots. But Moorhead found a way to keep a good top spin on his returns and got three consecutive games and the lead at 4-2.
Carey picked up the next game behind his serve to keep the match close.

The next game proved indicative of the match. The two went point for point with Moorhead diving to get to a long shot. He lost his hat in the shot and his backhand volley fell within easy range for Carey, who slammed the ball home to pull ahead. Moorhead came back though and the game went to deuce. Moorhead picked up the winning point on a long shot that fell just inside the baseline.

Needing just one more point to take the match, Moorhead fell behind in the next game before coming back to tie it at 30-30. Cary put it away on an ace and a long return.

Moorhead put the match away with four consecutive points in the next game.

The first set of the day set the tone. Moorhead took a 7-6 decision after a 7-4 tiebreaker game. Carey, however, never trailed in the second set and took a 6-3 decision to force the third set.

The pair shook off any notion that playing each other for the final added pressure.

“We play together all the time, so there wasn’t any pressure. It was fun,” Moorhead said.

In the doubles final Carey and Moorhead came back on the same side to take on Cosby senior Dominic Bullano and junior Bryan Sanders. Carey and Bullano were two-time Dominion District doubles champions, so one would have the opportunity to three-peat.

“They can go as long as they would like,” Sanders joked before the match. “We have full energy. We’ll come out full blast and take it to them.”

Carey and Moorhead, despite playing each other for nearly four hours, were not prepared to end their undefeated doubles season and won in two straight sets, 6-1 and 6-0, and are now 18-0.

“We just want to try to finish it earlier because I know we’re both pretty tired,” Moorhead said before the match. “We’re going to have to poach a lot and put the volleys away.”

All four players were back in action as Cosby hosted Prince George in the first round of the regional team tournament on Tuesday.

Results

Singles
First round: Chris James (Midlo) d. Dan Metz (LCB) 10-2; Josh Bortell (JR) d. Gavin Pearrell (Man) 10-0; Carter King (CH) d. Braden Cosner (Mon) 10-0; Brett Moorhead (Cos) d. Jake Gore (Midlo) 10-2; Andrew Shore (CH) d. Josh Young (LCB) 10-4; Kyle Biggers (Mon) d. Nick Burt (Man) 10-3.

Quarterfinals: Carey d. James 10-1; King d. Bortell 10-8; Moorhead d. Shore 10-0; Sullivan d. Biggers 10-1.

Semifinals: Carey d. King 6-1, 6-0; Moorhead d. Sullivan 6-3, 6-2.

Finals: Moorhead d. Carey 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4.

Doubles
First round: Josh Bortell-Nick Balsamo (JR) d. Jacob Loya-Nick Burt (Man) 10-4; Conner Long-Braden Cosner (Mon) d. Hunter Taylor-Jonathan Busells (LCB) 10-0; Andrew Shore-Careter King (CH) d. Andrew Park-Nick Cella (Midlo) 10-3; Dominic Bullano-Bryan Sanders (Cos) d. Chris James-Jake Gore (Midlo) 10-5; James Zalesk-Mark Racette (Man) d. Dan Metz-Josh Young (LCB) 10-8; Kyle Biggers-Ryan Pratt (Mon) d. Matt Cheatam-Cameron Taylor (CH) 10-8.

Quarterfinals: Tyler Carey- Brett Moorhead (Cos) d. Bortell-Balsamo 10-1; King-Shore d. Long-Cosner 10-5; Sanders-Bullano d. Zaleski-Racette 10-1; Shawn Dougherty-Jason Burkholder (JR) d. Biggers-Pratt 10-4.

Semifinals: Carey-Moorhead d. King-Shore 6-0, 6-2; Bullano-Sanders d. Dougherty-Burkholder 6-0, 6-1.

Finals: Moorhead-Carey d. Bullano-Sanders 6-0, 6-1.