MBHS wins state tennis title; dedicates championship to coach who died mid-season

COLUMBIA, SC (WMBF) - An emotional season culminated in the ultimate prize Saturday for the Myrtle Beach High School tennis team, winning the Class 4A SCHSL state championship 6-0 over A.C. Flora.

“All it takes is all you’ve got”, read shirts worn by the team and it’s supporters, many of whom made the trip to Columbia to see the Seahawks finish their season on top.

The phrase is an ode to the teams late coach Rivers Lynch, who die unexpectedly on April 29 at the age of 72.

“Behind closed doors, as a team, we’ve laughed together, cried together, we’ve celebrated together, we’ve mourned together,” Senior John Ed Cahill told WMBF News Monday after the team clinched the Lowerstate Championship.

John Ed would capture the the championship point, earning the teams 12th title for Coach Lynch.

“Everybody played their hearts out with grit and determination,” said Cahill.

It’s a win that will be remembered for a lifetime.

“The last game of the match for me I started feeling chills, it really started sinking in then,” said Joshua Wallen.

Wallen, stepped up as a team leader after Lynch’s passing and said he remembers vividly one of the last conversations he had with his coach.

“When I’m not here you have to be leading the team. I just thought he meant when I’m not on the court, but two or three days later he passed away so I went back and thought about that. We have to step up, the seniors have to step up and that what we did,” said Wallen.

Fittingly Lynch’s grandson ‘Rivers’ Cahill closed out the unanimous victory over A.C. Flora.

“This is huge to us because coach loved winning almost as much as he loved having fun,” said Rivers Cahill.

During the teams trophy presentation Rivers’ beloved wife of 50 years was honored by her grandchildren and the team where she thanked the team for finishing her husband’s dream.

With a 12th title added to his legacy the team knows Rivers’ is smiling down on and tough the team one last lesson even from up above.

“We use to be a team and now we’re a family,” said John Ed.

The championship chase continues for seniors John Ed Cahill, Joshua Wallen and freshman Rivers Cahill who were invited to compete in singles competition on Monday.

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