SALT LAKE CITY — With the first day of the 5A boy’s state tennis tournament in the books, just a handful of schools have distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
Defending champion Viewmont, Brighton and Lone Peak all managed to advance in four brackets and are locked in a three-way tie for first place.
Viewmont senior Jake Tullis defeated fellow senior Jake Harris from Pleasant Grove 6-0, 6-1 to earn a spot in one of the two first singles semifinal matches.
“Everyone is feeling the nerves, so you’ve just got to go out there and perform,” said Tullis. “Our coach is doing the right thing. He’s telling us to have fun, feel our shots and just go for it. That’s all you can really do.”
Brighton junior Chase Stoner had a phenomenal run through his first two matches of the tournament, highlighted by a two-set sweep in the first round that lasted just shy of 20 minutes. Stoner will meet Tullis in a semifinal showdown first thing Saturday morning.
Lone Peak junior Brocton Andrus punched his ticket into the semifinals with a decisive 6-0, 6-1 victory over Davis’ Sam Hafen in the quarterfinals. Andrus has been denied in his past two semifinal matches in the state tournament, and will have to best Alta senior Thomas Mikulis to finally break through.
The defending champs also got some big help in the points with both second and third singles advancing to championship Saturday.
Vikings sophomore Jack Talyor advanced to his second consecutive semifinal match in the tournament, while fellow sophomore Ethan Campbell also earned a semifinal spot for Viewmont.
“I’m definitely confident in my team, but you’ve got to be confident in yourself,” said Tullis. “You can never overlook anyone in this tournament.”
Anthony Panuzio had to survive a 6-3, 6-3 match against Davis’ Robert Song to make it to his second consecutive semifinal in second singles. The Brighton senior will have a day of rest before facing Lone Peak freshman Brigham Andrus, who swept both of his matches en route to the semifinal.
Defending third singles champion Jared Mansell made the case for another shot at the title while also helping Brighton earn critical points.
Six schools all managed to send teams into championship Saturday in first and second doubles. Lehi and Pleasant Grove were the only schools to send both teams into the semifinals, and both schools will meet each other in their respective bracket for semifinal matches. Coincidentally, the three teams tied for first place after day one each have a doubles team vying for critical points heading down the stretch.
5A BOYS STATE TENNIS
Liberty Park
Thursday
FIRST ROUND
1st Singles
Jake Harris, Pleasant Grove, def. John Ludlum, Hillcrest, 6-0, 6-1; Jake Tullis, Viewmont, def. Trinh Tran, Copper Hills, 6-2, 6-1; Chase Stoner, Brighton, def. Zane Peterson, Fremont, 6-0, 6-0; Moses Chang, American Fork, def. Gus Stevens, Cottonwood, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Sam Hafen, Davis, def. Stockton Aubrey, Bingham, 6-4, 6-3; Brocton Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Spencer Fulton, Granger, 6-0, 6-0; Josh Aughenbaugh, Herriman, def. Kolby Silim, Taylorsville, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; Thomas Mikulis, Alta, def. Cooper Harrison, Weber, 6-4, 6-1.
2nd Singles
Jack Taylor Viewmont, def. Mike Nakamura, Cottonwood, 6-1, 6-0; Conner Renfro, Alta, def. Jake Lambert, Lehi 6-3, 6-1; Tyler Harris, Pleasant Grove, def. Jared Tobler, Bingham, 6-0, 6-2; Remi Prince, Taylorsville, def. Burke Lindhardt, Syracuse, 6-0, 6-1; Brigham Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Rodney Walker, Copper Hills, 6-0, 6-0; Calvin Yu, Hillcrest, def. Jakade Kampinos, Weber, 1-6, 6-1, 6-2; Anthony Panuzio, Brighton, def. Ben Davis, American Fork, 6-0, 6-0; Robert Song, Davis, def. Easton Batt, Hunter, 6-2, 6-3.
3rd Singles
Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, def. Jonah Knight, Layton, 6-2, 6-1; Sean Nelson, Bingham, def. Andy Anderson, Cottonwood, 6-3, 6-0; Ethan Campbell, Viewmont, def. Braden Adams, Pleasant Grove, 6-2, 6-2; Scott Carter, Alta, def. Ian Foster, West, 7-5, 6-1; Braydon Barlow, Davis, def. Joseph Chang, American Fork, 6-3, 6-3; Quinten Gish, Copper Hills, def. Olson Williams, Hunter, 7-5, 6-1; Jared Mansell, Brighton, def. Martin Maghair, Taylorsville, 6-1, 6-2; Jack Hartvigsen, Lehi, def. Hunter Holmes, Fremont, 6-2, 6-1.
1st Doubles
Bryan Gricius & Niles Cochran, Lone Peak, def. Alex Smith & Jared Eccles, Granger, 6-1, 6-3; Henry Blackburn & Jens Fillmore, Viewmont, def. Chase Zagorec-Marks & Alex Dane, Alta, 6-0, 6-0; Adam Cox & Nathan Balls, Bingham, def. Brigham McKay & Tanner McKay, Weber, 6-2, 6-1; Spencer Wood & Josiah Shettell, American Fork, def. Brandon Baker & Jacob Ulrich, Hillcrest, 6-0, 6-1; Michael Moody & McKay Bruse, Davis, def. Chase Lima & Sam Shrader, Jordan, 7-6 (2), 6-4; Tyler Miller & Keaton Mathis, Lehi, def. Myles DeLuca & Cameron Larrabee, Taylorsville, 6-0, 6-0; Steven Sheffield & Josh Lee, Pleasant Grove, def. Henry Metcalf & Dylan Taylor, Cottonwood, 6-2,6-0; Curtis Hunt & Cannon Mansell, Brighton, def. Cameron Chugg & Cameron Elm, Fremont, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
2nd Doubles
Mitchell Mansell & Jake Fisher, Brighton, def. Matt Conover & Ashton Jensen, American Fork, 6-2, 6-4; Jackson Turner & Ryan Kasparian, Viewmont, def. Riley McCleary & Nathan VanLeeuwen, Hunter, 6-3, 6-0; Matthew Campbell & Reid Dimond, Cottonwood, def. Dallin Fisher & Joseph Packard, Fremont, 6-4, 6-3; Dallin Carrier & Josh Bearss, Lone Peak, def. Ben Pearson & Luke Roberts, Alta, 6-2, 6-2; Jackson Summerhays & Nityam Rathi, Hillcrest, def. Grant Gardner & Jensen Cox, Layton, 6-4, 7-5; Riley Court & McKay Bischoff, Pleasant Grove, def. Collin Greer & Will Cassity, Jordan, 6-4, 6-2; Kenton Hartle & Adam Sanford, Lehi, def. Bridger Peterson & Parker Hansen, Bingham, 7-6 (5), 7-5; Conner Fox & Seth Dana, Davis, def. Ryan Watchalotone & Ben Pearce, West, 6-2, 6-3.
SECOND ROUND
1st Singles
Jake Tullis, Viewmont, def. Jake Harris, Pleasant Grove, 6-0, 6-1; Chase Stoner, Brighton, def. Moses Chang, American Fork, 6-0, 6-1; Brocton Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Sam Hafen, Davis, 6-0, 6-1; Thomas Mikulis, Alta, def. Josh Aughenbaugh, Herriman, 7-6 (3), 6-0.
2nd Singles
Jack Taylor Viewmont, def. Conner Renfro, Alta, 6-1, 6-1; Tyler Harris, Pleasant Grove, def. Remi Prince, Taylorsville, 7-5, 6-1; Brigham Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Calvin Yu, Hillcrest, 6-0, 6-0; Anthony Panuzio, Brighton, def. Robert Song, Davis, 6-4, 6-3.
3rd Singles
Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, def. Sean Nelson, Bingham, 6-1, 6-0; Ethan Campbell, Viewmont, def. Scott Carter, Alta, 6-2, 6-1; Braydon Barlow, Davis, def. Quinten Gish, Copper Hills, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3; Jared Mansell, Brighton, def. Jack Hartvigsen, Lehi, 6-3, 7-5.
1st Doubles
Henry Blackburn & Jens Fillmore, Viewmont, def. Bryan Gricius & Niles Cochran, Lone Peak, 6-2, 6-2; Adam Cox & Nathan Balls, Bingham, def. Spencer Wood & Josiah Shettell, American Fork 6-4, 6-1; Tyler Miller & Keaton Mathis, Lehi, def. Michael Moody & McKay Bruse, Davis, 6-4, 7-6 (3); Steven Sheffield & Josh Lee, Pleasant Grove, def. Curtis Hunt & Cannon Mansell, Brighton, 7-6 (1), 6-2.
2nd Doubles
Mitchell Mansell & Jake Fisher, Brighton, def. Jackson Turner & Ryan Kasparian, Viewmont, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4; Dallin Carrier & Josh Bearss, Lone Peak, def. Matthew Campbell & Reid Dimond, Cottonwood, 6-0, 6-2; Riley Court & McKay Bischoff, Pleasant Grove, def. Jackson Summerhays & Nityam Rathi, Hillcrest, 6-1, 6-3; Kenton Hartle & Adam Sanford, Lehi, def. Conner Fox & Seth Dana, Davis, 6-2, 7-6 (6).