Greene Central Dominates EPC Tennis Tournament; Medlin Makes History

SNOW HILL - Greene Central High School’s tennis team solidified its dominance in the Eastern Plains Conference (EPC) tournament Wednesday, sweeping the event’s finals in singles, doubles, and exhibition competitions. The Rams will send all six entries to the NCHSAA 2A East Regional Championships, set to be held at Greene Central’s Tennis Complex on Oct. 18-19.

Leading the charge was senior Anna Katherine Medlin, who etched her name into the record books by winning her fourth consecutive EPC singles title, becoming the first athlete—male or female—in school and conference history to achieve this milestone. Medlin also completed her high school career undefeated in conference play with an astonishing 68-0 record. “Anna’s consistency and determination have been remarkable,” said head coach Tim Medlin. “She plays every match like she has something to prove, even though she’s already proven more than most players ever will.”

Medlin’s accolades extend further, as she earned Player of the Year honors for the third straight season after being named Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. She will continue her career at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, where she plans to build on her historic high school run.

In doubles action, Rylee Greene and Aubree Smith captured their second straight EPC doubles crown, rallying from a 1-6, 3-5 deficit to outlast Washington’s Addie Gibbs and Avery Thomas. For Greene, the victory marked her third EPC doubles title, having first won in 2022 alongside Kristen Colie. “Rylee and Aubree never give up, and that’s what makes them special,” Coach Medlin said. “They thrive under pressure and showed it once again.”

The Rams also saw impressive performances in the tournament’s exhibition event, where Coley Dyer won six straight matches in a single day, grinding through 8-6 victories in the semifinals and 8-4 in thefinals to claim the title. Dyer finsihed the season 16-1 in singles matches with her only loss coming to non-conference Fike High School. She also went undefeated in Doubles (10-0).

Freshmen twins Charlotte and Caroline Medlin turned heads with a spirited run to the doubles semifinals, narrowly missing an upset against Gibbs and Thomas. The Medlin twins led 5-3 in the first set and 5-2 in the second before falling 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) in an epic back-and-forth match. Charlotte Medlin earned Newcomer of the Year honors for her breakout performance, adding another accolade to the Rams’ growing list.

Junior Grace Baggett added to Greene Central’s success by reaching the singles final for the second straight year, where she fell to Anna Katherine Medlin in a competitive 6-3, 6-1** match. “Grace pushed Anna hard today, and that’s not easy to do,” Coach Medlin said. “It’s great to have players like Grace who are committed to growing every year.”

EPC Tournament Summary

Singles Championship:

Anna Katherine Medlin (GC) def. Grace Baggett (GC) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Championship:

Rylee Greene/Aubree Smith (GC) def. Addie Gibbs/Avery Thomas (W) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5

Exhibition Tournament Winner:

Coley Dyer (GC)

Newcomer of the Year:

Charlotte Medlin (GC)

**Player of the Year:**

Anna Katherine Medlin (GC)

Greene Central will look to build on this success at the NCHSAA 2A East Regional Championships, which the Rams will host on Oct. 18-19. With all six of its tournament entries advancing to regionals, Greene Central remains a force to be reckoned with.

“Our goal has always been to compete at the highest level, and this group has exceeded every expectation,” Coach Medlin said. “They’ve worked hard all season, and now we’ll see how far we can go in regionals and beyond.”

**Regional Qualifiers from EPC Tournament:**

*Singles*

1. Anna Katherine Medlin (GC)

2. Grace Baggett (GC)

3. Kaitlyn Wood (AG)

4. Alaina Moore (W)

5. Emery Linton (W)

*Doubles*

1. Rylee Greene/Aubree Smith (GC)

2. Addie Gibbs/Avery Thomas (W)

3. Charlotte Medlin/Caroline Medlin (GC)

4. Addison Hardee/Meredith Davies (AG)

5. Makayla Horton/Logan Riggs (AG)

6. Madison Swanner/Olivia Feyer (W)

The stage is now set for Greene Central to take their success to the regional level, as they seek to further their legacy at home. Coach Medlin remains confident in his players. “We’re ready for the challenge,” he said. “This is where champions are made.”