High School Standouts: Riverside Boys Tennis

GREER, S.C. (WSPA) – This week’s high school standouts overcame some unique challenges to clinch the school’s first boys tennis championship in decades.

The Riverside boys tennis team opened up a rematch of last year’s 4A championship game against Myrtle Beach on a Saturday in Florence, but would face weather postponements and a change in location before locking up the program’s first title since the 1992-’93 season, according to the SCHSL.

“All the seniors stepped up and kept a realistic view of what was going on,” said senior Jace Thompson. “We hadn’t won yet, even though it kind of felt like it. We still had a job to do and Nate and Connor took it home.”

Eighth grader and second year varsity athlete Nathan Purica was a critical part of a doubles match that ultimately brought the title home and wrapped up an undefeated season for the Warriors.

“One of our seniors told me that we were down 3-2 and I knew that I was the last match on so I knew that I had to clinch it and I did,” said Purica. “It was a really important match so I just let that sink in. I didn’t let my emotions get the better of me.”

For third year head coach Heather Gage, this undefeated season was the culmination of a ton of hard work and consistent progression.

“I wanted this more for them than they probably realized I wanted it,” said Gage. “They’ve worked really hard, it didn’t just happen overnight.”

Looking ahead, Gage hopes to keep Riverside on the map as the program continues to build on its legacy.

I think that we’re just getting started. I want people to think ‘Riverside, wow they have a great tennis program,’ and that the kids on that team are ones that you want to be apart of your community because they’re thinking about others, they’re giving back, they’re leading by example, they’re getting it done on the court, in the classroom, all the things,” Gage said.

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