It didn't take a Nostradamus prediction to figure out the winner of the 5A state tennis tournament. In fact, Davis coach Jerry Hogge's call will do just fine. "I don't see anyone catching Brighton. If you don't come in (to the semis) with all seven (players), your not going to win it."
The Bengals did come in seven strong, and won three of the five finals at the Eccles Tennis Center yesterday. The event was moved from Liberty Park due to inclement weather, but that didn't matter to the state champs."They just played great," said coach Corinne Nasella, "everybody was getting their points today."
The Bengals racked up 22 points in all, along with their second 5A state championship in as many years. However, the battle for second place was not quite as simple. Three teams - Orem, Davis and Skyline - finished tied for second with 10 points each.
In the No. 1 singles finals it was Layton's Shari Smith facing off against Davis' Heidi Thomas. The two were on a collision course from the start as they were placed in opposing brackets at the beginning of the tournament.
Thomas took the first set 6-2, but Smith rallied back in the second 6-4, sending the match into a tie-breaker. Thomas then took over posting a decisive 6-1 performance, clinching the No. 1 singles title.
Both girls are seniors, and it was only fitting that Thomas should win her state championship at Eccles, which will become her new home court next year as she will attend the University of Utah on a full-ride tennis scholarship.
Smith, who will attend BYU next season, did not feel too bad about the loss.
"I'm not going to say . . . I'm a loser because I couldn't get a state championship or anything. I felt like I fought hard, but she just played better."
The first doubles title went to Brighton's Aimee Evans and Andrea Wilkenson. Cindy Church and Elise Ekstrom, also of Brighton took the second doubles title. In other singles action, it was still-undefeated Reba Harkness of Brighton. Janice Han of Skyline took third solo honors. Brighton will return all three of its singles players next season, including No. 1 Lu Oswald who lost to Smith in the semifinals.