SALT LAKE CITY — The 5A boy’s tennis state tournament kicks off on Thursday with the team’s first, and second round matches at Liberty Park. This year’s tournament boasts one of its deepest fields in recent memory, with defending champion Lone Peak featuring a formidable team with several players back from last year’s tournament.
The Knights claimed four of five positions at the Region 4 tournament last week. The only position not claimed was first doubles in which they took second.
Standing in the Knights’ way will be eight-time champion Brighton which fields a talented yet inexperienced team. The Bengals claimed three of the five positions at the Region 3 tournament last week sweeping all three singles brackets. However, the Bengals did not claim the region title. That honor went to the Bingham Miners, who claimed two of the three positions at the region tournament and came out on top in points.
Also contending will be perennial powerhouse Viewmont. The Vikings boast some of the best singles players in the state and claimed three of the five positions at the region two tournament.
The first singles bracket holds one of the deepest fields in recent memory, headlined by last year’s runner-up, Jack Taylor from Viewmont, reigning third singles champion Micah Heimuli from Lone Peak, the reigning 3A third singles champion Ben Agrelius now representing Bingham, and Brighton's star freshman, Redd Owen.
“Redd has been a great addition to our team, he’s a great tennis player,” Brighton coach Natalie Meyer said of her gifted young pupil.
In second singles, last year’s runner-up Lone Peak junior Niles Cochran appears to be the favorite, but will face tough competition from the likes of Brighton junior Derek Turley, Viewmont senior Ethan Campbell, and Bingham senior Stockton Aubrey.
Third singles seems to be led by Brighton senior Nate Hillier, the group's elder who boasts a strong record and lots of experience that the rest of field lacks. However, standing in his way will be a group of talented young players led by Lone Peak sophomore Logan Wells, and Bingham freshman Cody White. Both hold undefeated regular season records and present unique challenges.
In first doubles, Pleasant Grove holds a number one seed with the strong senior pair of Cade Craft, and Braden Lord. The seniors will be tested by another pair of talented seniors in Nathan Balls, and Jared Tobler from Bingham, the Miners senior duo brings a 12-0 record and a number one seed going into the state tournament.
The second doubles group also features a deep pool of talent this year led by Lone Peak’s senior pair of Ty Tenney and Dallas Rodabough. The seniors will be tested by Brighton’s pair of senior Josh Bunker, and sophomore Parker Watts, as well as a tough pair from Davis in seniors Landon Becker and Nathan Miller.
“I feel good about our team as a whole I think we’re solid, and I think we’re peaking at the right time,” Coach Meyer said when asked about her team.
5A State Tournament
Friday’s first round
First Singles
Upper Bracket
Ben Agrelius, Bingham, vs. Robert Song, Davis
Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, vs. Jake Francis, Clearfield
Ryan Jeppson, Sky View, vs. Jeremy Larson, Riverton
Tyler Gibb, Layton, vs. Nicholas Colt, Jordan
Lower Bracket
Cooper Harrison, Weber, vs. Giovanni Claus, Herriman
Jack Taylor, Viewmont, vs. Jessie Marchant, Taylorsville
Redd Owen, Brighton, vs. Ethan Dubil, West
Ty Harris, Pleasant Grove, vs. Caden Frieke, Mountain Crest
Second Singles
Upper Bracket
Noah Cook, Pleasant Grove, vs. Issac Lee, West
Bridger Harrison, Weber, vs. Colin Greer, Jordan
Derek Turley, Brighton, vs. Logan Nielson, Sky View
Preston Kammeyer, Layton, vs. Layne Finlay, Herriman
Lower Bracket
Caden Probert, Fremont, vs. Quinten Gish, Copper Hills
Niles Cochran, Lone Peak, vs. Braden Hintze, Davis
Ethan Campbell, Viewmont, vs. Harrison Burgess, American Fork
Stockton Aubrey, Bingham, vs. Adam Naser, Mountain Crest
Third Singles
Upper Bracket
Cody White, Bingham, vs. Keaton Baucom, Riverton
John Benson, Weber, vs. Aaron Bentley, Granger
Danny Zlotnick, Davis, vs. Adam Jensen, Clearfield
Evan Armknecht, Pleasant Grove, vs. Scott Robinson, Jordan
Lower Bracket
Chase Boisjolie, Layton, vs. Andrew Nelson, Fremont
Logan Wells, Lone Peak, vs. Collin Barnett, Copper Hills
Nate Hillier, Brighton, vs. Marcus Young, Herriman
Jason Broadbent, Sky View, vs. Nate McDonald, Viewmont
First Doubles
Upper Bracket
Braxton Pardoe/Mitch Smith, Brighton, vs. Spencer Young/Isaac Parkinson, Layton
Cade Craft/Braden Lord, Pleasant Grove, vs. Si Holmes/Ben Packard, Fremont
Tate Thronton/Kyle Carter, Sky View, vs. Adam Murray/Berkley Day, Riverton
Sam Hafen/Johnny Thorton, Davis, vs. MG Limones/Dakota Beck, Taylorsville
Lower Bracket
Bowen Work/Zach Jensen, Northridge, vs. Ben Roper/Dane Peterson, American Fork
Alex Ritter/Grant Wilkensen, Viewmont, vs. Matt Hansen/Peter Nash, Cottonwood
Nathan Balls/Jared Tobler, Bingham, vs. China Khonsanit/Luis Medellin, Granger
Josh Bearss/Jacob Newell, Lone Peak, vs. Zach Holt/Bradon Iverson, Weber
Second Doubles
Upper Bracket
McKay Sobotka/Lazarus Shettell, American Fork, vs. Jordan Griffith/Josh Higginson, Granger
Brodie Martin/Isaac Olsen, Sky View, vs. Chase Smith/Mason Nielson, Taylorsville
Austin Cox/Jesse Ntawutarama, Bingham, vs. Justin Fernald/Nelson Durrant, Northridge
Jaden Hodges/Stephen Gutke, Viewmont, vs. Jason Harline/Jaxon Kirk, Pleasant Grove
Lower Bracket
Matt Frame/Josh Morey, Fremont, vs. Garrett Matua/Matt Arnold, West Jordan
Ty Tenney/Dallas Rodabough, Lone Peak, vs. Tony Christopoulos/Mason Phelps, Layton
Landon Becker/Nathan Miller, Davis vs. Jaxson Day/Josh Burke, Riverton
Josh Bunker/Parker Watts, Brighton, vs. Eli Hall/Hudson Schenck, Weber