Lucy Barr, CCC champion in 2023

lucy barr

By Mike London
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SALISBURY – As a freshman tennis hopeful, Lucy Barr was No. 7 for the Salisbury Hornets in a sport where only six can play.

That disappointment could have destroyed her, could have forced her to quit the sport or look for a new school. Instead, that humble first year made her who she is as a senior in Salisbury: the Post’s Rowan County Player of the Year and one of the state’s best in 2A.

“That first year was tough because I had always played and had success, and for a while I was getting depressed,” Barr said. “But now I know that the first year was important. He taught me a lot. I learned to be a good teammate. I learned to cheer on my teammates and be happy when they were successful. “I learned to be part of a team.”

Learning that the team is more important than individuals is a lesson that some learn late in life and others never learn at all. Barr learned it early. It has helped her become not only an outstanding player but also the leader of a team that has an incredible tradition in this sport. Salisbury has lost only one Central Carolina Conference game since 2002.

Barr’s mother, Gwin Carter Barr, was part of that tradition as a standout of the program’s first NCHSAA champions in 1985.

Lucy had golf clubs and tennis rackets in her hands almost since she was old enough to walk. His older brother, Charlie, inherited the golf gene. He is a successful Division I golfer at High Point University and has played in the US Amateur tournament.

“But I was always more drawn to tennis,” Lucy said. “I really loved it.”

He seriously worked on his game and jumped into Salisbury’s lineup at No. 4 as a sophomore. That was the year she won a three-hour marathon and earned a reputation as a competitor who would fight to the last point.

“My thing is to endure a tough game until I find a way to get through it,” Barr said. “Sometimes it doesn’t all come down to who has the best shots. Having all the shots is great, but tennis is more than anything a game of mental strength. I think that’s why I love it. I usually find a way to win.”

In her junior year, Barr rose to the No. 2 singles spot for the Hornets, and Rowan County Player of the Year Millie Wymbs played at the No. 1 spot. Playing 2 was much more challenging than 4, especially in the matches. important outside the conference. , but Barr usually prevailed. He won a few individual individual championships, was a state quarterfinalist and was part of all-region teams.

Barr, who was promoted to No. 1 for the first time as a senior, and the Hornets received news over the summer that Cora Wymbs, one of the team’s standouts, was transferring to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham. . That changed the Hornets’ lives. It meant two freshmen would be at the back of the starting lineup.

“Cora was an incredible player and a great teammate, so I was sad to see her go,” Barr said. “As far as our team goes, it meant more responsibility for me in terms of trying to help and guide our freshmen. His success was as important to me as my own matches at number one singles and doubles. Those freshmen (Anna Kate Goodman and Gabriella Fatovic) did great things and we had another exciting season. We had great support from the community. “The Leonard family was there for every home game.”

Barr went 15-1 in singles as an All-State senior. She and partner Meredith Williams won regional and conference doubles championships and reached the 2A state semifinals.

Barr’s only loss was against strong 4A player Cox Mill.

“I was frustrated in that game and it’s easy to lose points when you’re frustrated,” Barr said. “I learned from it. “I didn’t let it happen again.”

Barr’s last game as Salisbury’s team leader was a 5-3 third-round loss at Hendersonville in late October.

“We were all nervous, but the girls fought through it,” Barr said. “It was one of those games where every point counts and we managed to overcome some close games.”

In a “rebuilding” season, Salisbury went 14-2 and won its 22nd consecutive CCC championship. Among other recognitions, Barr was the Rowan-Salisbury School System Female Athlete of the Month.

“It was a great season for our girls, especially with two freshmen starters and only seven on the team,” Salisbury coach Milt Griffith said. “A lot of people wrote them off, but they did very well. Lucy was a big part of that. Not only step up and win your games, but also help everyone else and help your teammates be the best they can be. She’s a very different Lucy now than the one we saw when she was a freshman and sophomore. “She has matured and is a natural leader.”

High school tennis will likely be Barr’s last success in the sport.

He hasn’t made a college decision yet, but it will be a choice based on academics, not a tennis program. He is planning a career as a medical assistant.

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In addition to Barr and Williams, Salisbury had a second doubles team: Addie Griffith/Lola Koontz qualify for the state tournament.

Returning from a torn ACL that ended her junior year, Carson’s Allie Martin finished fourth regionally and qualified at state.

South Rowan’s Bella Caraccio and the Olivia Maynor/Sophie Steedley doubles team qualified for the regional. West Rowan’s doubles team of Autumn Yount and Emma Crider also qualified for the regional.

All Hornet starters compiled excellent records. They all did the whole county.

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Rowan County Tennis

Salisbury: Lucy Barr and Meredith Williams. Addie Griffith, Lola Koontz, Anna Kate Goodman, Gabriella Fatovic

West Rowan: Autumn Yount, Emma Crider, Olyvia Brown, Lucy Moore

Southern Rowan – Bella Caraccio, Sophie Steedley, Olivia Maynor

Carson – Allie Martin, Maggie Cooper

East Rowan-Jaylen Jones

Northern Rowan – Olivia Neely

Player of the year: Lucy Barr

Coach of the Year: Milton Griffith, Salisbury