ST. GEORGE — Park City coach Warren Pretorious is relieved, he said. Relieved the season's over.
Oh, he's extremely happy, too. It's hard not to smile with a grip on the 3A state tennis title.
The Miners scored 28 to win the team title for the second straight season on Saturday in Tonaquint Park. Pine View finished second with 15 points, and Ogden earned third with 11 points.
The title is the third for Pretorious in eight years, and the Miners have finished in the top three at states for the past five years.
"It's tough to be in the position where everybody is shooting out for you," Pretorious said.
It might have been tough, but Park City made it look easy, despite the challenge of Pine View through the semifinals.
Four of the Miners' five teams won individual state titles. Only Pine View's Wes Hancock broke up the sweep with his win at No. 1 singles — a third straight state singles title for him — over Dixie's Jeremy Atkin 6-1, 6-2.
Before the finals started, the Miners had locked up the title.
The deciding match to beat Pine View came in the semifinals of No. 2 doubles. Hank Mastain, the lone senior for Park City, and his partner, Danny Clark, battled Pine View's Jason Anderson and Russ Christensen. In the third and deciding set, Clark and Mastain trailed 2-4, but won the last four games to take the match 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.
The win pushed Park City too far in front of the Panthers, ensuring the title.
"We had a pivotal win at No. 2 doubles," Pretorious said. "If we lose, Pine View has a chance to take state from us."
Mastain felt the pressure but said he thrived off it.
"That was intense," said Mastain, who won a doubles title last year, too. "I was very nervous. I wanted to win state this year."
Mastain and Clark beat Ogden's Bowen Jensen and Alex Stracener 6-5, 6-0, in the final.
In No. 2 singles, the Miners' Nick Vonderahe took the state title 6-1, 6-2, over Judge Memorial's Matt McCoy 6-1, 6-2.
Park City's fourth and final win came at No. 1 doubles. Matt Kunkel and David Marsh were able to beat the Panthers' Reed Whittington and Sam Christensen 6-2, 6-4.
3A TENNIS TOURNAMENT
at Tonaquint Park
Final Team Standings
1. Park City 28; 2. Pine View 15; 3. Ogden 11; 4. Dixie 9; 5. Judge Memorial 6; 6. Grantsville 4; 6. Tooele 4; 8. Lehi 3; 8. Snow Canyon 3; 10. Morgan 2; 10. Hurricane 2; 10. Ben Lomond; 13. Bear River 1; 13. North Sanpete 1; 13. Canyon View 1.
Semifinal Results
First Singles
Wesley Hancock (PV) def. Fletcher Keyes (PC) 6-1, 6-1; Jeremy Atkin (Dixie) def. Stefan Vlassek (Hurr.) 6-3, 7-6.
Second Singles
Nick Vonderahe (PC) def. Cody Castle (T) 6-3, 6-2; Matt McCoy (Judge) def. David Oliver (Dixie) 6-3, 7-6 (5).
Third Singles
Nick Perez (PC) def. Jeff Bauer (PV) 6-0, 6-0; Mike Bokinskie (Ogden) def. Dillon Wathen (Lehi) 6-1, 6-0.
First Doubles
Matt Kunkel, David Marsh (PC) def. Matt Glendenning, Isaac Nelson (Dixie) 6-0, 7-5; Reed Whittington, Sam Christensen (PV) def. Tom Sherwood, Steven Bennion (Judge) 6-4, 6-5.
Second Doubles
Hank Mastain, Danny Clark (PC) def. Jason Anderson, Russ Christensen (PV) 1-6, 6-0, 6-4; Bowen Jensen, Alex Stracener (Ogden) def. Dane Scholes, Tyler Cheeseman (SC) 7-5, 6-2.
Finals Results
First Singles
Wesley Hancock (PV) def. Jeremy Atkin 6-1, 6-2.
Second Singles
Nick Vonderahe (PC) def. Matt McCoy (Judge) 6-1, 6-2.
Third Singles
Nick Perez (PC) def. Mike Bokinskie 6-1, 6-0.
First Doubles
Matt Kunkel, David Marsh (PC) def Reed Whittington, Sam Christensen (PV) 6-2, 6-4.
Second Doubles
Hank Mastain, Danny Clark (PC) def. Bowen Jensen, Alex Stracener (Ogden) 7-5, 6-0.