State Champions: Hickory High brothers reflect on historic tennis doubles win

The Powers brothers defeated another pair of brothers, Collins and Snyder Pearson of Fike High School in Wilson, to claim the crown.

When the four siblings met in the finals, it would be the first time in NCHSAA history two teams of brothers battled for a state doubles title.

Graham is two years younger but took to tennis first. He played in his first tournament at 9. He said that while he loves competing, the team dynamic of high school tennis has made it even more enjoyable for him.

Clint has also been around tennis for most of his life. For him, though, it was just for fun at first.

“I only got really involved with competitive tennis in ninth grade,” he said. “I played some recreationally with the family before that.”

Now, paired with his brother in doubles play, he said he leans on his younger brother’s knowledge of the sport and his years of experience. But he doesn’t think it’s strange that he, as the older brother, looks up to his younger brother on the court. In Clint’s eyes, Graham has earned it.

“It’s a funny mix when you get out there,” he said. “Graham is 100% more experienced, and I was able to lean on his experience and his skill set.”

Despite his experience, Graham looks to his older brother as well. Graham said Clint’s calm demeanor and level head have bailed them out of a few tough spots this year. In fact, both boys agree that they have a lot of complementary strengths that come together to make them better together than they are individually. They said it’s a big reason why they did so well this season.

“I did feel like I was the stronger player,” Graham said. “I also know that Clint’s a great player and he could back me up, not just in tennis but emotionally. I’m a very emotional player on court and it was nice for Clint to be out there. He could calm me down when I needed it.”

Clint said he counted on Graham to make big plays when the match was on the line.

“From conference tournament day one,” he said. “All throughout regionals, all throughout the state tournament, he was the one I was leaning on to make tough plays.”

Clint said they work well together.

“We complement each other very well,” he said. “Understanding each other’s personalities before we go out on court makes the jelling a lot easier and makes it really easy to trust each other.”

This isn’t either brother’s first state title. Both boys were on last year’s state title-winning Red Tornadoes tennis team. Graham also teamed up with Griffin Lovern to win the state doubles title last year.

Despite their past successes, the Powers brothers said there is something special about this latest accomplishment.

“It does make it really special because I did get to play with Clint, who I’ve made this relationship with my whole life,” Graham said. “We also just had that bond from the first match we played. The chemistry we had was really good and it was really special to be out there with him.”

“It excited me to be able to hit a good shot and have my brother right here to congratulate me,” Clint added.

Graham will go into his junior year next fall, so he’ll be back to take another shot at a state title. But Clint graduates this weekend and will attend UNC-Chapel Hill in the fall.

As he looks back on his tennis career at Hickory, Clint called it an amazing experience. He said he would have liked to have added one more dual-team state championship this year, but he said he feels blessed to have been able to accomplish all that he’s accomplished.

“As a program, we’ve done what most teams only dream of,” he said.

Graham is looking forward to two more opportunities to continue the winning legacy he and his teammates have established in recent years.

“The legacy of the tennis team here is just unbelievable,” he said. “I hope we can, these next few years I’m here, continue to make it better and better.”

Graham is also working toward his goal of playing tennis at the collegiate level. Clint wants to play at Chapel Hill too, but it will be at the club level.

“I want to continue to play recreationally, at the same time, with friends and make new connections that way,” he said.

And even though the Powers brothers will not be making a return to a high school tennis court together, that doesn’t mean the magic has to die. Clint said both boys have been getting into table tennis recently, and, just like in everything else, the competition can get fierce.

“It immediately gets just as heated as if we were in the state championship,” he said.

The duo also won a pickleball tournament together last December.