Greene Central Women's Tennis Team Shatters State Record
Snow Hill, NC — The Greene Central High School women's tennis team has made history by clinching their 30th consecutive conference championship, breaking the North Carolina state record. The Rams sealed this monumental achievement with an 8-1 non-conference victory over C.B. Aycock, concluding their regular season with a 17-2 overall record and an unblemished 8-0 in conference play.
Player Highlights
The individual performances this season have been nothing short of remarkable. Anna Katherine Medlin finished with a 17-2 record, Rylee Greene at 14-3, Grace Bagget at 14-1, and Coley Dyer at 13-6. These standout seasons were pivotal in the team's overall success and their historic conference win over Farmville Central earlier this week.
A Reunion of Legends
Adding a layer of sentimentality to the victory was the presence of C.B. Aycock's coach, Donald Clark. Clark is a legendary figure in North Carolina tennis with 700 career wins in 44 years of coaching. He was at the helm of Greene Central's program when the championship streak began three decades ago.
The Coaches: A Tale of Two Dynasties
Current Greene Central coach Tim Medlin, who has been coaching tennis since 1988, took over the program 10 years ago. Medlin has an impressive coaching résumé, including stints as a club pro, private coach, and even serving as Director of Wayne County Junior Tennis Program in the early '90s. His career at Greene Central boasts a 162-32 record, translating to an 84% winning percentage.
Donald Clark, who coached from 1989-2013, amassed a 437-186 record, with a 70% winning percentage. Both Medlin and Clark have been honored as USTA Coach of the Year.
The Medlin-Clark Connection
Medlin and Clark's paths crossed in a unique way. Medlin played at C.B. Aycock in the '80s and later coached a team in Rosewood that was a primary rival to Clark’s teams in the early to mid-'90s. When Clark retired, he recommended Medlin for the varsity head coach position at Greene Central.
"The first question the press asked me is how intimidating it was to take over a program that had won 20 years in a row," Medlin recalled. "I said, 'I’m pretty confident in myself and what I bring to the table.'"
A Legacy Built on Dedication
"The kids are everything to me," Medlin said. "They trusted the coaching, they put in the hours of work, they hit all the shots. They also believed in passing the torch from one generation to the next, for 30 years."
Historic Context
Medlin took over a men’s team that was 0-15 in 2016 and turned them into an undefeated team ranked #1 in the State four years later. Clark had a similar story, taking over a winless women’s team and turning them into a dynasty.
Conclusion
As Greene Central prepares for the postseason, they carry with them a 30-year legacy of excellence, the teachings of two extraordinary coaches, and the dedication of generations of players. The future looks incredibly bright for this storied program.
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