SALT LAKE CITY— As expected, Timpview surged in front of the other 4A schools Friday in the attempt to bring home the Thunderbirds' first trophy since 2012.
Timpview managed to book entry into all five brackets heading into championship Saturday, with Maple Mountain as well as two-time defending champion Mountain View giving chase.
“We’re really trying to get them in the mindset that you're here to have fun,” said Timpview head coach Rob Sperry, before paraphrasing Billie Jean King. “Pressure is a privilege. Enjoy that privilege, and have fun with it.”
Weather forced officials to move all singles players up to the Eccles Tennis Center, and the doubles players were sent to Salt Lake Swimming and Tennis Clubs.
The dual sites weren’t exactly what coaches and officials were hoping for, and Timpview’s coach offered his perspective on the matter.
“It’s not quite as fun, we like it to be more festive and to all be together,” admitted Sperry. “But I think having the two sites was necessary, and I think it’s worked out well.”
Mountain View junior Jon Dollahite, who is the favorite to win first singles, capped the afternoon with a two-set sweep over Maple Mountain’s Andrew Blonquist. Dollahite has secured back-to-back singles titles in the past two state tournaments, and will have to best Sky View's Austin Jeppson in the semifinals to punch a third consecutive ticket to the final.
Paul Monson also had a solid run through the first singles bracket, with the Timpview senior holding off Bonneville junior Keith McMullin in a 7-5, 6-1 victory to earn a spot in the semifinals.
Timpview also saw Zach Simpson and Scotty Wynn breeze through competition Friday to put the Thunderbirds in position to possibly sweep all three singles brackets.
“So far the kids have executed well. They came with good preparation. They’re loose and having fun, but they just need to remain focused.”
Skyline underclassmen Dawson Robb-Wilcox and Raleigh Sorbonne helped cement the Eagles right near the top of the team scores, with both Robb-Wilcox and Sorbonne having to survive three-set matches to earn a spot in their respective semifinal matches.
Another pair of underclassmen, this time from Maple Mountain, helped their school to a second-place finish after day one by each knocking off their opponents to make championship Saturday.
Woods Cross and Timpview were the only schools to send both of their doubles teams into their respective semifinal matches after day one. Colin Cole and Taft Holzer will have to be at their best for the Wildcats first thing in the morning, as the semifinal showdown against the Timpview duo of Travis Wardrop and Mason Brockbank.
Two undefeated teams will meet in the semifinals of second doubles, when Jacob Cline & Davis Nielsen from Woods Cross square off against Skyline’s Greg Lee and Thomas Hall with a shot in the title match on the line. Timpview’s Nate Austin and Skyler Johson are poised to meet the darkhorse pair of Zach Ipsen and Dan Reese from Olympus at the top of the second doubles bracket.
Play will resume at Liberty Park tennis courts, with both 4A and 5A bringing their tournaments to a conclusion in the park. For weather updates, see UHSAA.org.
4A BOYS STATE TENNIS
Salt Lake City
Eccles Tennis Center & Salt Lake Tennis
Friday
FIRST ROUND
1st Singles
John Dollahite, Mountain View, def. James Larsen, Logan, 6-1, 6-1; Andrew Blonquist, Maple Mountain. def. Jorgen Paulsen, East, 6-3, 6-2; Austin Jeppson, Sky View, def. Kaden Craig, Orem, 6-1, 6-2; Jakob Kempema, Woods Cross, def. Aaron Kelemen, Provo 7-6 (3), 6-3; Paul Monson, Timpview, def. Matthew Wilson, Highland, 6-0, 6-3; Keith McMullin, Bonneville, def. Justin Stohlton, Timpanogos, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2; David Mejia, Bountiful, def. Tyson Galbraith, Springville, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1; Nick Sepulveda, Corner Canyon, def. Luke Dance, Mountain Crest, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
2nd Singles
Zach Simpson, Timpview, def. Mark Spencer, Sky View, 6-0, 6-1; Christian Craig, Orem, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1); Tanner O’Brien, Timpanogos, def. Nate Leishman, East, 6-3, 7-5; Alex Hall, Bonneville, def. Robby Dixon, Spanish Fork, 6-2, 6-1; Dawson Robb-Wilcox, Skyline, def. Ethan Nakaya, Bountiful, 6-2, 6-2; Stuart Hopkins, Logan, def. Austin Galbraith, Springville, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2; James McKell, Mountain View, def. Keaton Deland, Clearfield, 6-3, 6-3; Eric Whiting, Maple Mtn., def. Scott Johnson, Mountain Crest, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-2.
3rd Singles
Zac Spencer, Mtn. View, def. Michael Wilcox, Provo, 6-2, 6-1; Andrew Johnson, Mountain Crest, def. Corbin Harmer, Clearfield, 6-1, 6-0; Will Corbett, East, def. Ethan May, Logan 6-2, 6-3; Brigham Perry, Maple Mtn., def. Zack McGill, Timpanogos, 6-2, 6-1; Tanner Heaton, Bonneville, def. Sam Pugsley, Woods Cross, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1; Raleigh Sorbonne, Skyline, def. Sam Hansen, Springville, 6-1, 6-0; Scotty Wynn, Timpview, def. David Abbott, Orem, 6-2, 6-0; Christian Hadlock, Bountiful, def. Stone Hunt, Sky View, 6-2, 6-1.
1st Doubles
Nam Luu & Daniel Blonquist, Corner Canyon, def. John Kammerman & Reed Kammerman, Kearns, 6-1, 6-2; Nate Cutler & Miguel Salvadore, Corner Canyon, def. Ben Coppin & Jared Higham, Logan, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Nick Bond & Connor Clark, Wasatch, def. Eric Rose & Dixie Leavitt, East, 6-3, 6-0; Dallen Broadbent & Austin Griffen, Sky View, def. John Caine & Coulson Rich, Olympus, 6-2, 6-4; Travis Wardrop & Mason Brockbank, Timpview, def. Kyler Sparrow & Dylan Dusek, Clearfield, 6-0, 6-1; Benjamin Nielsen & Ryan Ham, Timpanogos, def. Jack Crandall & Jaxon Brenchley, Mtn. Crest, 6-4, 6-3; Colin Cole & Taft Holzer, Woods Cross, def. Sven Jamsa & Dallin McCarthy, Salem Hills, 6-2, 6-0; Cole Dayton & Wells Bunker, Orem, def. Isaac Bravo & Luke Martineau, Bonneville, 6-2, 6-3.
2nd Doubles
Nate Austin & Skyler Johnson, Timpview, def. Devin Carter & Reilly Iverson, Bonneville, 6-0, 6-2; Jeffrey Reeves & Tyson Santiago, Orem, def. Jordan Scott & Cole Peterson, Bountiful, 6-1, 7-6; Zach Ipsen & Dan Reese, Olympus, def. John Schwarz & Andrew Aubry, Judge, 7-5, 6-3; Nick Trotter & Levi Ward, Salem Hills, def. Tate Thorton & Garrett Duncan, Sky View, 7-5, 7-5; Jake Cline & Davis Nielsen, Woods Cross, def. Timothy Yoo & Dallin Hughes, Timpanogos, 6-1, 6-3, Jens Nilson & Sam Adams, Mtn. Crest, def. Spencer Straddeck & Ty Fagg, Wasatch, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Greg Lee & Thomas Hall, Skyline, def. Andy Silver & Ben Hogan, Highland, 6-1, 6-0; Austin Edwards & Joseph Phelps, Maple Mtn., def. Austin Henline & Robbie Ballam, Logan, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
SECOND ROUND
1st Singles
John Dollahite, Mountain View, def. Andrew Blonquist, Maple Mtn. 6-0, 6-0; Austin Jeppson, Sky View, def. Jakob Kempema, Woods Cross, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Paul Monson, Timpview, def. Keith McMullin, Bonneville, 7-5, 6-1; David Mejia, Bountiful, def. Nick Sepulveda, Corner Canyon, 6-1, 6-1.
2nd Singles
Zach Simpson, Timpview, def. Christian Craig, Orem, 6-1, 6-2; Alex Hall, Bonneville, def. Tanner O’Brien, Timpanogos, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2; Dawson Robb-Wilcox, Skyline, def. Stuart Hopkins, Logan, 3-6, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (4); Eric Whiting, Maple Mtn., def. James McKell, Mountain View, 6-3, 6-1.
3rd Singles
Zac Spencer, Mtn. View, def. Andrew Johnson, Mountain Crest, 6-3, 6-4; Brigham Perry, Maple Mtn., Will Corbett, East, 7-6 (8), 7-5; Raleigh Sorbonne, Skyline, def. Tanner Heaton, Bonneville, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0; Scotty Wynn, Timpview, def. Christian Hadlock, Bountiful, 6-0, 6-1.
1st Doubles
Nam Luu & Daniel Blonquist, Corner Canyon, def. Nate Cutler & Miguel Salvadore, Corner Canyon, 6-1, 6-4; Nick Bond & Connor Clark, Wasatch, def. Dallen Broadbent & Austin Griffen, Sky View, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; Travis Wardrop & Mason Brockbank, Timpview, def. Benjamin Nielsen & Ryan Ham, Timpanogos, 6-2, 6-1; Colin Cole & Taft Holzer, Woods Cross, def. Cole Dayton & Wells Bunker, Orem, 6-2, 6-2.
2nd Doubles
Nate Austin & Skyler Johnson, Timpview, def. Jeffrey Reeves & Tyson Santiago, Orem, 6-0, 6-1; Zach Ipsen & Dan Reese, Olympus, def. Nick Trotter & Levi Ward, Salem Hills, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4; Jake Cline & Davis Nielsen, Woods Cross, def. Jens Nilson & Sam Adams, Mtn. Crest, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3; Greg Lee & Thomas Hall, Skyline, def. Austin Edwards & Joseph Phelps, Maple Mtn., 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
For weather updates, see UHSAA.org