Honestly it’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life. This team is so special, and we’ve fought through so much adversity I just couldn’t be happier right now. It’s an absolute dream. – Brighton's Anthony Panuzio
SALT LAKE CITY — Brighton excelled past all competition Saturday to claim the boys 5A state tennis championship. Naturally, Bengals players were thrilled.
“Honestly it’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt in my entire life,” second singles champion Anthony Panuzio said. “This team is so special, and we’ve fought through so much adversity I just couldn’t be happier right now. It’s an absolute dream.”
Panuzio had to survive a three-set semifinal to earn a spot in the second singles title match, in which the Bengals senior outlasted Viewmont’s Jack Taylor 6-4, 6-4.
Viewmont, which entered the tournament as the two-time defending champs, managed to earn a second-place finish behind a first singles title from senior Jake Tullis.
“First off, with Jack, he did his best out there. Panuzio has a wicked forehand and a slice that make him a great player,” said Tullis giving props to his teammate. “I definitely had to play good. The players here made me elevate the game to my expectations.”
Tullis handed Lone Peak junior Brocton Andrus a 6-1, 6-3 loss in the first singles title match.
Jared Mansell defended his third singles championship in thrilling fashion Saturday, besting Lone Peak freshman Micah Heimuli in the title match. Mansell was hampered by a leg injury early in the match but managed to overcome it with a little help from teammate Jake Fisher and Mansell's brother Mitchell on the neighboring court. Fisher’s emotional outbursts were visibly playing advantage to a hampered Mansell, who composed himself to close out the title match.
“It’s euphoric,” Brighton head coach Natalie Aposhian said about returning to the top of 5A. “It’s something that we’ve set as our goal, and we’ve worked so hard to get back up there again. These boys have been working so hard, and so for us to finally come through knowing we had such huge competition it’s unbelievable.”
Bingham earned a lone title in the first doubles bracket after Adam Cox and Nathan Balls defeated Pleasant Grove’s Steven Sheffield and Josh Lee 7-6, 6-2.
5A BOYS STATE TENNIS
Eccles Tennis Center
Salt Lake City
Saturday
SEMIFINALS
1st Singles
Jake Tullis, Viewmont, def. Chase Stoner, Brighton, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Brocton Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Thomas Mikulis, Alta, 6-1, 6-4.
2nd Singles
Jack Taylor Viewmont, def. Tyler Harris, Pleasant Grove, 6-1, 6-4; Anthony Panuzio, Brighton, def. Brigham Andrus, Lone Peak, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
3rd Singles
Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, def. Ethan Campbell, Viewmont, 6-2, 6-2; Jared Mansell, Brighton, def. Braydon Barlow, Davis, 6-0, 6-2.
1st Doubles
Adam Cox & Nathan Balls, Bingham, def. Henry Blackburn & Jens Fillmore, Viewmont, 6-2, 7-5; Steven Sheffield & Josh Lee, Pleasant Grove, def. Tyler Miller & Keaton Mathis, Lehi, 7-6, 6-3.
2nd Doubles
Mitchell Mansell & Jake Fisher, Brighton, def. Dallin Carrier & Josh Bearss, Lone Peak, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6; Kenton Hartle & Adam Sanford, Lehi, def. Riley Court & McKay Bischoff, Pleasant Grove, 6-2, 6-2.
CHAMPIONSHIP
1st Singles
Jake Tullis, Viewmont, def. Brocton Andrus, Lone Peak, 6-1, 6-3.
2nd Singles
Anthony Panuzio, Brighton, def. Jack Taylor Viewmont, 6-4, 6-4.
3rd Singles
Jared Mansell, Brighton, def. Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4).
1st Doubles
Adam Cox & Nathan Balls, Bingham, def. Steven Sheffield & Josh Lee, Pleasant Grove, 7-6, 6-2.
2nd Doubles
Mitchell Mansell & Jake Fisher, Brighton, def. Kenton Hartle & Adam Sanford, Lehi, 6-3, 6-2.