Upon taking over as Gaston Day girls tennis coach five years ago, Erik Ibsen understood he was in it for the long haul.

If nothing else, Ibsen and the Spartan girls tennis team can say the past few years have been worth their while. 

Gaston Day girls tennis claimed its second NCISAA 2A state title in three years on Saturday, avenging its loss in last year’s final to Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill 5-1 at Cary Tennis Park.

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Earning singles wins in Saturday’s state final were Avery Shaffer, Margaux Nelli and Alexis Ibsen. The doubles teams of Emilee Ibsen and Shaffer, as well as Alexis Ibsen and Madeleine Singh were also victorious.

Gaston Day finishes the season with a 18-0 record, in addition to its second state title in three years. The Spartans also claimed girls tennis gold in 1990.

No Spartan singles player lost more than three matches all season. Alexis Ibsen had a particularly special season, going 10-0 in No. 5 singles and 8-0 in No. 3 doubles alongside Singh.

Saturday’s state final was the last hurrah for Gaston Day’s senior class consisting of Alexis Ibsen, Jewell and Singh. The trio helped breathe life into a dormant program in 2018. After going 2-9 as wide-eyed rookies, they helped the Spartans to a 68-7 record over the last five seasons.

“We have three graduating seniors who have been on the team for six years after (daughter Alexis Ibsen) helped restart the program. They started playing together in seventh grade,” Erik Ibsen said. “I made a promise to (Alexis) that I would coach the team until she graduates, so I have been the head coach now for five years.”

In addition to the aforementioned players, the Gaston Day girls tennis team includes Bella Buckner, Natalie Abdul Jawad and Zosia Sutherland.