This is Sparta!: Gaston Day in 'Blue Heaven' after trio of NCISAA state title wins
Joe L Hughes II
The Gaston Gazette
Gaston Day volleyball team poses with the NCISAA 2A championship trophy on Oct. 30, 2021.
Ethan Horky woke up a tad earlier than normal on Saturday.
Sure, visions of a second state championship in three years would make for a sleepless night. However, the Gaston Day boys soccer team captain wanted to witness history before he and his teammates’ opportunity to make some of their own.
“I saw a lot of people that don’t normally come out to a lot of (games),” Horky said. “The tennis team, the volleyball team, they are usually playing when we’re playing. So them coming out, having my family and friends out here today, it meant a lot.”
Prior to Saturday, Gaston Day had won a total of 11 NCISAA state titles. Saturday might as well have been a gold rush for the school, a breezy November afternoon supplying the backdrop for it to claim state titles in girls tennis, volleyball and boys soccer.
“Unbelievable,” said Gaston Day boys soccer coach Greg Lekavich. “I’ve never heard of something like this happening. Just incredible.”
Finally, the ring fits
Well before playing for championships, Derek Bing did all he could to make sure the Gaston Day volleyball team knew what an elite team looked like. And while the Spartans had come short in their attempt to claim the program’s first title, the veteran volleyball coach figured such persistence would eventually pay off.
“Going up to (NCISAA 3A state champion) Asheville Christian and winning a five-set match, going to South Carolina and playing Cardinal Newman, Porter Gaud and Wando got us ready for (the NCISAA 2A volleyball playoffs). We beat five defending state champs this year, and all four teams that are in the S.C. 5A Final Four.
“We were confident. We were prepared. (On Saturday), it was just time for us to do it. All of that got us ready.”
In its fourth crack at a championship in as many seasons, Gaston Day cast aside ghosts from title games’ past on Saturday, defeating Davidson Day 3-1 (21-25, 30-28, 25-19, 25-8).
Davidson Day came out the gates strong, flexing its muscle at the net through timely blocks as well as the shot ability of outside hitter Gerren Tomlin. Already down a set and off to a slow start in the second, Bing said his group needed a jolt.
“It felt tough for a while, but it was never anything we felt we couldn’t overcome,” the Gaston Day coach said. “(Davidson Day) was better than us at the first ball, side out game. If this was going to be a game of who scores off the first swing and who defends the first swing, they had our number and we had to adjust. We had to play balls that would get them out of system, make the point last longer and we knew we could win longer points.
“In a match you have learning time in the beginning, adjustment time in the middle and then have crunch time. We went through all three of those (Saturday), and once we got into crunch time our girls were there to take over.”
Sophomore Camryn Massey had a bit to do with that, her length and athleticism forcing Tomlin to alter shots in the final three sets. Massey also scored her share of blocks, several of which fell for points in a dramatic, game-changing second set.
“For Camryn, this year is like a first time thing for her. She had never seen the type of competition we play,” Bing said. “Every time is an adjustment for her, but once she figures it all out she is going to be a great player. She’s just learned so much and come so far this year.”
After three tight sets, the fourth served more as a coronation with the large share of points falling in Gaston Day’s favor. As the final Davidson Day shot went long, excited Gaston Day players hugged each other with schoolmates, parents and fans joining in moments later.
“It feels incredible,” Bing said. “Our girls are such winners. They have such grit and togetherness, and have overcome a lot of setbacks, and they keep finding a way. We knew we would accomplish this, but Davidson Day played so well out of the gate. They came prepared, played tough and we had to play tough, overcome some things, but this is what we have learned to do.”
Gaston Day’s Emilee Ibsen serves during her doubles match at the NCISAA 2A girls tennis finals played Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at the Racquet Club of Gastonia on Howe Dairy Road.
A modern-day revival
For a stretch in the last decade, girls tennis at Gaston Day had become a thing of the past.
Once a sure bet to make a deep playoff run, the Spartans spent the better part of the last four years looking to rebuild what was once a powerhouse program. Following Saturday’s NCISAA Class 2A state title match, it’s fair to say this project is complete.
Gaston Day claimed its first girls tennis state championship since 1990 with a 5-4 victory over Davidson Day.
“It’s amazing, four years ago my daughter (Alexis Ibsen) helped bring this program back,” said Gaston Day girls tennis coach Erik Ibsen. “But to win a state championship on a day with so many others at the school, it is really a special day.”
Emilee Ibsen, Avery Shaffer, Madeline Singh and Jessica Nosike claimed singles wins. According to Ibsen, Nosike’s match proved decisive.
“It was the last and deciding match,” he said. “She lost the first set, then came back to tie it in the second. She outlasted the Davidson Day player 10-7 in a third set tiebreak to give us the championship.”
Emilee Ibsen and Shaffer also claimed wins in doubles action for Gaston Day.
Gaston Day boys soccer players celebrate following their 2A state title win on Saturday.
A finishing touch
Minutes after the final buzzer sounded, Lekavich was still seething over his Gaston Day boys soccer team allowing a goal moments before its latest state title became official.
Well into their championship celebration, Spartan players had quite the idea to help cool their coach off a tad. Dumping a bucket of water over Lekavich’s shoulders, likely the only one not satisfied with the sight was the skipper’s young son.
Lekavich can smile looking at the latest addition to the school’s trophy collection, Gaston Day rolling to a 3-1 victory over Trinity Academy of Raleigh. Ben Spencer netted two goals, with Jack D’Amore adding another via penalty kick.
It is the Spartans’ second title in three seasons, and capped a day chock full of gold for those clad in blue.
“We dominated in terms of time of possession and we converted on key moments. One of them was a clear handball and we were rightly awarded (in the second half) a penalty,” Lekavich said. “That was a key, critical juncture of the game. From there we were professional in going about our business.”
A unit priding itself on its defensive prowess in 2019, the 2021 Gaston Day boys soccer team couldn’t have been more different. Chief among them was its explosive capability, the Spartans scoring 104 goals en route to a championship, 50 more than their last title-winning side.
“We were an older, bigger team in 2019,” Spencer said. “And we took the aspect of not having as much size and used our skill to get the better of our opponents. We’re a team that loves to run. We’ll run 10 miles if we have to.
“We’re pretty fit, our coaches make sure of that.”
Its previous title games played on the road, Spencer added the opportunity to vie for a championship on its home turf made the experience that much sweeter.
“It’s hard to describe in words,” he said. “Getting to play at home is special, playing on a field we’re used to and then the crowd that came out. I'm happy for the (girls tennis and volleyball) teams and proud of our boys to finish the deal and bring the school a third trophy in one day.”
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
Joe L Hughes II
The Gaston Gazette
Gaston Day volleyball team poses with the NCISAA 2A championship trophy on Oct. 30, 2021.
Ethan Horky woke up a tad earlier than normal on Saturday.
Sure, visions of a second state championship in three years would make for a sleepless night. However, the Gaston Day boys soccer team captain wanted to witness history before he and his teammates’ opportunity to make some of their own.
“I saw a lot of people that don’t normally come out to a lot of (games),” Horky said. “The tennis team, the volleyball team, they are usually playing when we’re playing. So them coming out, having my family and friends out here today, it meant a lot.”
Prior to Saturday, Gaston Day had won a total of 11 NCISAA state titles. Saturday might as well have been a gold rush for the school, a breezy November afternoon supplying the backdrop for it to claim state titles in girls tennis, volleyball and boys soccer.
“Unbelievable,” said Gaston Day boys soccer coach Greg Lekavich. “I’ve never heard of something like this happening. Just incredible.”
Finally, the ring fits
Well before playing for championships, Derek Bing did all he could to make sure the Gaston Day volleyball team knew what an elite team looked like. And while the Spartans had come short in their attempt to claim the program’s first title, the veteran volleyball coach figured such persistence would eventually pay off.
“Going up to (NCISAA 3A state champion) Asheville Christian and winning a five-set match, going to South Carolina and playing Cardinal Newman, Porter Gaud and Wando got us ready for (the NCISAA 2A volleyball playoffs). We beat five defending state champs this year, and all four teams that are in the S.C. 5A Final Four.
“We were confident. We were prepared. (On Saturday), it was just time for us to do it. All of that got us ready.”
In its fourth crack at a championship in as many seasons, Gaston Day cast aside ghosts from title games’ past on Saturday, defeating Davidson Day 3-1 (21-25, 30-28, 25-19, 25-8).
Davidson Day came out the gates strong, flexing its muscle at the net through timely blocks as well as the shot ability of outside hitter Gerren Tomlin. Already down a set and off to a slow start in the second, Bing said his group needed a jolt.
“It felt tough for a while, but it was never anything we felt we couldn’t overcome,” the Gaston Day coach said. “(Davidson Day) was better than us at the first ball, side out game. If this was going to be a game of who scores off the first swing and who defends the first swing, they had our number and we had to adjust. We had to play balls that would get them out of system, make the point last longer and we knew we could win longer points.
“In a match you have learning time in the beginning, adjustment time in the middle and then have crunch time. We went through all three of those (Saturday), and once we got into crunch time our girls were there to take over.”
Sophomore Camryn Massey had a bit to do with that, her length and athleticism forcing Tomlin to alter shots in the final three sets. Massey also scored her share of blocks, several of which fell for points in a dramatic, game-changing second set.
“For Camryn, this year is like a first time thing for her. She had never seen the type of competition we play,” Bing said. “Every time is an adjustment for her, but once she figures it all out she is going to be a great player. She’s just learned so much and come so far this year.”
After three tight sets, the fourth served more as a coronation with the large share of points falling in Gaston Day’s favor. As the final Davidson Day shot went long, excited Gaston Day players hugged each other with schoolmates, parents and fans joining in moments later.
“It feels incredible,” Bing said. “Our girls are such winners. They have such grit and togetherness, and have overcome a lot of setbacks, and they keep finding a way. We knew we would accomplish this, but Davidson Day played so well out of the gate. They came prepared, played tough and we had to play tough, overcome some things, but this is what we have learned to do.”
Gaston Day’s Emilee Ibsen serves during her doubles match at the NCISAA 2A girls tennis finals played Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at the Racquet Club of Gastonia on Howe Dairy Road.
A modern-day revival
For a stretch in the last decade, girls tennis at Gaston Day had become a thing of the past.
Once a sure bet to make a deep playoff run, the Spartans spent the better part of the last four years looking to rebuild what was once a powerhouse program. Following Saturday’s NCISAA Class 2A state title match, it’s fair to say this project is complete.
Gaston Day claimed its first girls tennis state championship since 1990 with a 5-4 victory over Davidson Day.
“It’s amazing, four years ago my daughter (Alexis Ibsen) helped bring this program back,” said Gaston Day girls tennis coach Erik Ibsen. “But to win a state championship on a day with so many others at the school, it is really a special day.”
Emilee Ibsen, Avery Shaffer, Madeline Singh and Jessica Nosike claimed singles wins. According to Ibsen, Nosike’s match proved decisive.
“It was the last and deciding match,” he said. “She lost the first set, then came back to tie it in the second. She outlasted the Davidson Day player 10-7 in a third set tiebreak to give us the championship.”
Emilee Ibsen and Shaffer also claimed wins in doubles action for Gaston Day.
Gaston Day boys soccer players celebrate following their 2A state title win on Saturday.
A finishing touch
Minutes after the final buzzer sounded, Lekavich was still seething over his Gaston Day boys soccer team allowing a goal moments before its latest state title became official.
Well into their championship celebration, Spartan players had quite the idea to help cool their coach off a tad. Dumping a bucket of water over Lekavich’s shoulders, likely the only one not satisfied with the sight was the skipper’s young son.
Lekavich can smile looking at the latest addition to the school’s trophy collection, Gaston Day rolling to a 3-1 victory over Trinity Academy of Raleigh. Ben Spencer netted two goals, with Jack D’Amore adding another via penalty kick.
It is the Spartans’ second title in three seasons, and capped a day chock full of gold for those clad in blue.
“We dominated in terms of time of possession and we converted on key moments. One of them was a clear handball and we were rightly awarded (in the second half) a penalty,” Lekavich said. “That was a key, critical juncture of the game. From there we were professional in going about our business.”
A unit priding itself on its defensive prowess in 2019, the 2021 Gaston Day boys soccer team couldn’t have been more different. Chief among them was its explosive capability, the Spartans scoring 104 goals en route to a championship, 50 more than their last title-winning side.
“We were an older, bigger team in 2019,” Spencer said. “And we took the aspect of not having as much size and used our skill to get the better of our opponents. We’re a team that loves to run. We’ll run 10 miles if we have to.
“We’re pretty fit, our coaches make sure of that.”
Its previous title games played on the road, Spencer added the opportunity to vie for a championship on its home turf made the experience that much sweeter.
“It’s hard to describe in words,” he said. “Getting to play at home is special, playing on a field we’re used to and then the crowd that came out. I'm happy for the (girls tennis and volleyball) teams and proud of our boys to finish the deal and bring the school a third trophy in one day.”
You can reach Joe Hughes at 704-914-8138, email jhughes@gastongazette.com and follow on Twitter @JoeLHughesII.
