By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — North Rowan boys tennis might be the biggest surprise of the spring.

The Cavaliers have won two 5-4 matches against North Stanly in the last few days. North Stanly was the Yadkin Valley Conference champion in 2018.

North Rowan won only four matches last season and was winless as recently as 2017, but the Cavaliers have made a terrific turnaround under Michael Brooks, the first-year head coach.

Brooks played high school tennis growing up in West Virginia and developed a love for the sport. He gave up tennis for a few years while he was a music major at Glenville State College, a small school in rural West Virginia that prepares a lot of future teachers.

After moving to Rowan County, Brooks coached tennis teams at Corriher-Lipe and Knox middle schools, and then North Rowan Middle.

Most of his work day is spent as the chorus teacher at North Middle, but he also teaches one class at North Rowan High.

The middle school boys play tennis in the fall, while the high school boys play in the spring, so Brooks was able to coach both North teams this school year.

“Two of our freshmen (Arizona Day and Lee Patterson) are players I had a chance to coach at North Middle, and they’ve really helped us,” Brooks said. “We don’t have a large team, but there was a good foundation for this team to be successful because of the work of the previous coach Jeff Price. These are great kids, good students, very active in the school in things like the band and the arts.”

North’s top player, all-county senior Hans Roemer, is one of Rowan’s standouts. He’s undefeated at No. 1 singles and gives North a great chance to win at No. 1 doubles, as well.

“He’s not only an experienced and exceptional player, he’s been a great leader for us,” Brooks said.

The YVC has already conducted its conference tournament. Roemer went 3-0 and was crowned as singles champion. He’ll be representing North Rowan in regional play.

North’s No. 2 player is another senior — J.D. Hager. He’s provided a win in all but two matches.

Junior Ray Montes, sophomore Terrance Settlemyer and Day hold down the 3 through 5 seeds for the Cavaliers.

Settlemyer is only in his second year of playing tennis, but he’s making quick strides.

Senior Garrett Jennings is the No. 6 singles player for North. Patterson, No. 7 on the depth chart, usually steps in and plays No. 3 doubles.

“They’ve been fine with those roles,” Brooks said. “They’re team players.”

North’s fourth senior is Joe Fofana, who has provided depth and helps push his teammates in practice.

North won against East Rowan recently, and while it was non-conference match it meant something to the players to beat a county rival.

“They were pretty excited about it,” Brooks said.

On Monday, in that key 5-4 YVC rematch at North Stanly, Roemer breezed to another win at No. 1 and teamed with Hager to take No. 1 doubles. The other three North Rowan wins took considerable fight. Montes and Jennings came back from a set down to force — and win — tense, third-set tiebreakers. Day won in straight sets, but both were close.

Gray Stone and South Stanly have strong teams at the top of the YVC, but with the two tight victories against North Stanly, North Rowan (8-3, 7-3) has established itself as one of the league’s top three squads.

That should mean a rare playoff berth for the Cavaliers (8-3, 7-3), who haven’t ventured to the boys tennis playoffs since 2003.

“We’ve practiced hard, and our guys have played focused and smart tennis,” Brooks said. “I’m very happy with the progress.”