APA advances to third straight state championship

Arendell Parrott’s Erika Gorrin-Rivas prepares to return a serve during Tuesday’s win over Asheville School in the NCISAA 3A semifinals. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

Arendell Parrott hopes the third time is the charm Saturday.

As the Patriots defeated Asheville School 5-2 in the NCISAA 3A semifinals, the team continued their undefeated season on the way to Saturday’s state championship game. For the third straight year, APA has reached this benchmark and faces a familiar foe in St. David’s.

The Warriors are the seven-time defending state champions, but the Patriots defeated them twice in the regular season, a fact APA coach Brad Sauls hopes gives the team an additional boost Saturday.

“I think it’s going to take a lot for us to get the victory,” Sauls said. “Physically, we’re in great shape — really, it’s a mental hurdle. This year, we have the belief we can do it and we’re excited to be here.”

The Patriots have seven seniors on the roster, including Anna Morris, who said the focus is to finish with a bang.

“It’s my senior year and my third year going into a state championship, so I’d like to end my high school career with (a title),” Morris said.

Patriots senior Grace Brydge shared similar sentiments.

“It would be really special if we won,” Brydge said. “We lost two really good players last year, but I think we’ve all come together (at the right time).”

Sophomore Erika Gorrin-Rivas said it would be the perfect way to send off the upperclassmen.

“We have a lot of seniors, so I feel like it’s really important for us to do the best we can,” Gorrin-Rivas said.

The Patriots are searching for their first championship since 2011 and will play St. David’s at 10 a.m. at N.C. Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.