GREENSBORO — Three tennis players from Richmond Senior High School got the opportunity to represent the school in the regional round of the individual state playoffs Friday.
Senior Jentry Denson, junior Colbie Covington and sophomore Erin Drumwright traveled to Guilford College to compete in the NCHSAA 7A Midwest regional tournament.
Although Richmond didn’t have a team member advance to the next stage of the postseason, the three Lady Raiders put an exclamation mark on an extraordinary campaign.
“This was a really special way for all three of the girls to finish the season,” head coach Jessica Covington said. “It’s an honor for each of them to even be here and to get the chance to play at this level.
“Obviously they all wanted to win and keep going. But I am so proud of each of them. Each of the girls played well today and tried her best, but they ran into some tough competition.
“I think this says a lot about the growth of all three girls this season, as well as our program as a whole,” Coach Covington said. “Jentry and Colbie have been successful doubles partners all season, and Erin started with no experience to being able to make the playoffs.”
Denson and Colbie Covington, the team’s two most-experienced players at the start of the season, represented Richmond as a doubles pairing. Drumwright, who began her tennis career this season, played singles.
Both matches for the Lady Raiders were against players from Chapel Hill High School.
Facing the No. 1 seed in the 7A Midwest tournament, Drumwright lost to junior Erica Cui 2-0 by final scores of 0-6, 0-6.
Denson and Colbie Covington fared a little better in their doubles match against juniors Caroline Rhee and Sophia Wang.
Also falling 2-0, Denson and Colbie Covington managed to win some points The final scores were 1-6 and 2-6.
The success shown by Denson, Colbie Covington and Denson this season tripled Richmond’s regional qualifier participation from 2024. Last fall, only former player Hanna Smith made the postseason.
