Lucy Barr, CCC champion in 2023

Lucy Barr

By Mike London
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SALISBURY — As a freshman tennis prospect, Lucy Barr was No. 7 for the Salisbury Hornets in a sport where only six players can play.

This disappointment could have broken her, pushed her to give up the sport or find a new school. Instead, this humble freshman made her what she is as a Salisbury senior — the Post’s Rowan County Player of the Year and one of the state’s best in 2A .

“That first year was tough because I had always been playing and having success, and for a while I was getting down on myself,” Barr said. “But I know now that that first year was important. It taught me so much. I learned to be a good teammate. I learned to encourage my teammates and be happy when they succeed. I learned to be part of a team.

Learning that the team is more important than individuals is a lesson that some learn late in life and others never learn at all. Barr learned this early. This has helped her become not only an exceptional player, but also the leader of a team that has an incredible tradition in the sport. Salisbury has lost just one Central Carolina Conference game since 2002.

Barr’s mother, Gwin Carter Barr, was part of that tradition as one of the program’s first NCHSAA champions in 1985.

Lucy had golf clubs and tennis rackets in her hands almost since she was old enough to walk. His older brother, Charlie, got the golf gene. He is a successful Division I golfer at High Point University and played on the U.S. Amateur team.

“But I was always more interested in tennis,” Lucy said. “I really loved it.”

She worked seriously on her game and joined Salisbury’s roster at No. 4 as a sophomore. It was the year she won a three-hour marathon match and established a reputation as a competitor willing to fight to the last point.

“My thing is to stay in a tough game until I find a way out,” Barr said. “Sometimes it’s not about who has the best shots. Having all the shots is good, but tennis is above all a game of mental strength. I think that’s why I love him. I usually find a way to win.

As a junior, Barr moved up to No. 2 singles for the Hornets, with Rowan County Player of the Year Millie Wymbs playing No. 1. Playing No. 2 was much more difficult than No. 4, especially in big non-conference games. , but Barr usually won. She won individual singles championships, was a state quarterfinalist and was a member of all-region teams.

Barr, who was moving up to No. 1 for the first time as a senior, and the Hornets learned this summer that Cora Wymbs, one of the team’s stars, was transferring to the North Carolina School of Science & Math in Durham . . It was life-changing for the Hornets. That meant two freshmen were going to be at the back of the starting lineup.

“Cora was an incredible player and a great teammate, so I was sad she was leaving,” Barr said. “As far as our team goes, it meant more responsibility for me as I tried to help and guide our freshmen. Their success was as important to me as my own matches at number 1 in singles and doubles. These freshmen (Anna Kate Goodman and Gabriella Fatovic) did great things and we had another exciting season. We have received great support from the community. The Leonard family was there for every home game.

Barr was 15-1 in singles as an All-State senior. She and partner Meredith Williams won the conference and regional doubles championships and reached the 2A state semifinals.

Barr’s only loss was to 4A strongman Cox Mill.

“I was frustrated in that game and it’s easy to lose points when you’re frustrated,” Barr said. “I learned from it. I didn’t let this happen again.

Barr’s final game as leader of the Salisbury team came in a 5-3 third-round loss at Hendersonville in late October.

“We were all nervous, but the girls fought hard to get it,” Barr said. “It was one of those games where every point counted, and we had some close games.”

In a “rebuilding” season, Salisbury was 14-2 and won its 22nd consecutive CCC championship. Among other honors, Barr was named the Rowan-Salisbury School System’s Female Athlete of the Month.

“It’s been quite a season for our girls, especially with two freshmen and only seven on the team,” Salisbury coach Milt Griffith said. “A lot of people excluded them, but they did very well. Lucy was a big part of that. Not only stepping up and winning her matches, but also bringing everyone else together, helping her teammates be the best they can be. She is now a very different Lucy than we saw when she was in first and second grade. She is mature and a natural leader.

High school tennis will likely be Barr’s last hurray in the sport.

She hasn’t made a college decision yet, but it will be a choice based on academics and not a tennis program. She is considering a career as a medical assistant.

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In addition to Barr and Williams, Salisbury’s had a second doubles team – Addie Griffith/Lola Koontz advance to the state tournament.

Returning from a torn ACL that wiped out her junior year, Carson’s Allie Martin finished fourth at regional and qualified for state.

South Rowan’s Bella Caraccio and doubles team Olivia Maynor/Sophie Steedley qualified for the regional. West Rowan’s doubles team of Autumn Yount/Emma Crider also qualified for the regional.

All of the Hornet starters have compiled excellent records. They all did the whole county.

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Rowan County Tennis

Salisbury – Lucy Barr, Meredith Williams. Addie Griffith, Lola Koontz, Anna Kate Goodman, Gabriella Fatovic

West Rowan — Autumn Yount, Emma Crider, Olyvia Brown, Lucy Moore

South Rowan — Bella Caraccio, Sophie Steedley, Olivia Maynor

Carson — Allie Martin, Maggie Cooper

East Rowan – Jaylen Jones

North Rowan – Olivia Neely

Player of the Year – Lucy Barr

Coach of the Year — Milton Griffith, Salisbury