WILSON – Ridgecroft School finished third overall here last week.

The Lady Rams’ tennis team captured that position in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association state 1-A championships while placing four singles’ players and three doubles’ teams in at least the semifinal rounds.

Top seeded Kristen Cayton got things started off for the Rams by garnering a bye in the first round.

After that, Cayton topped Betty Edwards of Northeast Academy in round two before falling to Morgan Holloman of Faith Christian.

Third-seeded Tayler Smith of Ridgecroft grabbed an opening-round win over Brittany Arrington of Flora MacDonald before falling to Sarah Rabon of Trinity Academy.

In the fourth seed tournament, Lady Ram Jessica Bolton made it all the way to the state finals.

She began by receiving a bye in the first round and then defeated Allison Pauli of Trinity Academy in round two. In the semifinals, Bolton topped Meredith Howell of Faith Christian.

In the state finals, Bolton fell to Betsy Peters of Greenfield School.

Sixth seed Taylor Futrell followed a similar path to Bolton’s.

She received a first-round by before defeating Taylor Cocke of Northeast in round two and stopping Inglis Towe of Lawrence in the semifinals.

She fell to Elizabeth Cobb of Greenfield in the state finals.

In doubles’ action, Cayton and partner Sarah Grace Magette defeated the Trinity Academy team of Jennie Pillard and Mary Ashleigh Craver to forge their way into the semifinals.

There, Ridgecroft’s top-seeded team fell to Sarah Thomas and Mallory Stuart of Greenfield.

In number two doubles, Hayes Bryant and Smith defeated Sarah Morgan Hunter and Emily Adkins of Kerr-Vance Academy to make the semifinals. They lost in that round to Abby Skinner and Betsy Peters of Greenfield.

The final doubles’ team for the Rams was Bolton and Caroline Bowman, who received a bye and then defeated Towe and Margaret Jeanette of Lawrence Academy.

In the state semifinals, they fell to Afton Britt and Maggie Braswell of Faith Christian.

Ridgecroft garnered 17 points overall to finish behind state champion Greenfield School (31) and Faith Christian (18). A total of 10 schools were represented.

“I’m proud of their effort,” first-year coach Stan Daughtridge said. “I think we might have peaked at the right time.’