The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916614
JANUARY 2018 ■ 93 Sometimes, adding just the right person to a team makes all the difference. Contact Andy Carmen (NCSU '79) at 336.714.4111 or acarmen@belldavispitt.com CONSTRUCTION LAW | REAL ESTATE | CORPORATE | LITIGATION | FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | EDUCATION | TAX | FAMILY LAW | ESTATE PLANNING/ADMINISTRATION WINSTON SALEM | CHARLOTTE | BELLDAVISPITT.COM BDP.12102.04 AndyCarmenAD_R5.indd 1 9/24/13 12:24 PM Noting The Pack • Assistant coach David Secker might be new to NC State, but he isn't to head coach Simon Earnshaw. Secker played for Earnshaw from 2003-06 at Arm- strong Atlantic State, going 81-40 in singles, which ranks third in program history. He then transitioned to become an assistant coach for the men's and women's programs at his alma mater from 2006-12 under Earnshaw. Armstrong Atlantic State went 150-6 over the last five years of that stint on the women's side and 135-8 overall with the men. Secker left to be the director of the Advantage Tennis Academy in Irvine, Calif., but Earnshaw fig - ured the time and place to be reunited would hap- pen at some point. "He has probably become a much better coach while being out of college tennis," Earnshaw said. "That is a huge advantage to us this year. "I wish I could have hired David when I got the job, but it's like anything, right place and right time." • Earnshaw signed coveted prep senior Alana Smith in November, and she's expected to make an immediate impact next year. Smith, who is from Fort Washington, Md., is ranked No. 1 in Maryland and No. 34 overall nationally in the class of 2018 by TennisRecruiting.net. Smith competed in the singles qualifying at the Australian Open and Wimbledon Juniors this past year. She has an 89-48 record in ITF Junior doubles events with eight titles, including the 2017 Costa Rica Bowl and NZ ITF Summer Championships. She also won the singles title at the 2016 Bank of Ber - muda ITF. Junior Claudia Wiktorin ended the fall ranked No. 61 nationally in singles. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP