Because of rain last Friday, the North Carolina State Tennis Tournament moved indoors at UNC Chapel Hill, where Hoggard’s Kaitlin Burns won her first round match easily. With time to play only one round on Friday, she would have to win three matches on Saturday to defend the title she won last year. The second round was played back outside, and Burns won easily over Hamilton Lovett of Broughton. In the semi-finals, she had to play Kinsey Pate, from Butler in Charlotte, who Burns beat last year in the finals. Hoggard Tennis Coach Gwynn Honeycutt told the Cape Fear Sports Report, “Kinsey is a great player and had some wins this summer over a couple of really good players, so this match would be tough, but Kaitlin played great, and won 6-2, 6-0.” Burns then had to wait several hours to play, because the other 2nd round match lasted 3 hours. That player had a one and a half hour break before playing her semi-final, and then a 1 hour break before the finals. Honeycutt noted, “Kaitlin started her first match at 12:30 and went on the court at 7:00 for the finals. It was incredible!!” Burns played Grace Baker from Meyers Park in the finals, and won 6-1, 6-3 to claim her second consecutive state championship. Grace Baker had beat Hoggard’s Maggie Dickens in the first round. Coach Honeycutt added, “I knew that if Maggie could win that match she would probably make it to the finals!! Grace Baker is a very good player. Maggie stayed with us after she lost, warmed Kaitlin up, and helped keep her entertained during the day!! I’m proud of both of them!! A back to back championship is always awesome!! It’s great for Hoggard and the community!!!”