By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
When Graeme Angus established himself not only as the top player on a state runner-up Beaufort High tennis team as a seventh-grader last spring, but also as one of the area’s best overall players, it seemed apparent that Angus would one day capture a state singles title.
It didn’t take long.
Only an eighth-grader at Beaufort Middle School, Angus has claimed a state title for Beaufort High School before he has even enrolled, winning five consecutive matches in straight sets to win the SCHSL Class 5A/4A state singles championship.
Angus earned All-State honors as a seventh-grader when he won three straight matches in the back draw following a tough three-set loss to Myrtle Beach’s Rivers Cahill in the opening round, eventually falling to Greenwood’s Graeme Simpson in the consolation semifinals.
Both of those past nemeses were in the draw this year, too, but they didn’t stand in Angus’ way. In fact, they squared off in the semifinals with Simpson winning an epic three-setter (7-5, 6-7, 15-13), while Angus dispatched Spartanburg’s Jerome Falcon 7-5, 6-2 to set up a rematch of the bout that ended his season a year ago.
This round went a little differently, as Angus was able to grind out a 7-5 win in the first set and pounce on a weary Simpson for a 6-1 win to close it out and cap off a sensational second season playing high school tennis for the Beaufort star. Angus finished 23-1 this season and earned Region 7-4A and Class 4A Player of the Year honors.
And he still has four years left.
