High school tennis: Timpview dominates to claim third straight 5A state title

SALT LAKE CITY — As he watched the Timpview girls tennis team celebrate its third straight 5A state tournament title Saturday afternoon, coach Nate Warner couldn’t pick a single player to recognize.

“It’s really all about the team,” he said. “The girls care about each other, play for each other, and they played well.”

The T-Birds have done that all season and concluded it at Liberty Park by accumulating 26 points to humble every other 5A team. Anna Stewart was the lone singles champion, but the doubles teams of Emma Wilkinson-Kylie Woods and Olive Esplin-Aubrey Page also rolled through their divisions. Timpview’s other players, Avery Pope and Sofie Thompson, finished second.

By the end of the day, the scoring wasn’t even close. Region 7 mate Orem took second place in the team standings with 10 points, followed by Woods Cross (9), Highland and Park City (7) and Alta (6).

Timpview held a big lead after the first day of competition on Thursday, and Warner was concerned his squad would be overconfident. However, after every T-Bird player earned two more points by winning their semifinal matches early in the day, the pressure was off and the coaching staff could enjoy the warm, sunny conditions.

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Warner said Timpview’s tennis tradition, nonregion matches against several 6A opponents, and a difficult Region 7 schedule helped the T-Birds prepare.

It also allowed Warner to have time to ponder why the fence at the southwest corner of the Liberty Park courts was labeled the “Warner Wall.”

Afterward, his players took time from snapping photographs of each other with the trophy, and agreed to honor him with a picture in front of the sign.

“The girls care about each other, play for each other, and they played well.” — Timpview coach Nate Warner

Because the outcome was so one-sided, not many teams remained for the final matches. Besides Timpview’s frequent celebrations, other highlights included Macy Richards of Woods Cross, who won her second consecutive state title over a familiar opponent — Pope — this time in No. 1 singles. Also, Orem freshman Maya Inouye concluded her freshman season by remaining undefeated and earning a trophy.

Another factor was how the fans handled the UHSAA’s second-sponsored event of the school year, while dealing with the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We didn’t have many problems,” said UHSAA assistant director Jon Oglesby. “We’re lucky to be here (competing). The attendance was probably down a little bit, but everyone wore their masks and was cooperative.”

Girls 3A state tennis tournament

At Liberty Park

Saturday’s results

Team scores

1. Timpview, 26; 2. Orem, 10; 3. Woods Cross, 9; 4. Highland, Park City, 7; 6. Alta, 6; 7. Springville, 5; 8. Provo, 4; 9. Brighton, Olympus, Skyline, Spanish Fork, 3; 13. Salem Hills, 2; 14. Farmington, Lehi, 1.

First singles

Semifinals

Macy Richards (Woods Cross) def. Elle Martin (Park City) 6-0, 6-4

Avery Pope (Timpview) def. Sophie Hastings (Highland) 6-3, 6-2

Championship

Richards def. Pope 6-2, 6-1.

Second singles

Semifinals

Sofie Thompson (Timpview) def. Rebecca Greene (Skyline) 6-1, 6-0

Maya Inouye (Orem) def. Audrey Lord (Park City) 3-2, Ret. 

Championship

Inouye def. Thompson 6-2, 6-1.

Third singles

Semifinals

Anna Stewart (Timpview) def. Kylie Smith (Spanish Fork) 6-1, 6-1

Kayla Carlson (Orem) def. Madison Galbraith (Springville) 7-6 (10), 6-4

Championship

Stewart def. Carlson 6-1, 6-0.

First doubles

Semifinals

Brooklyn Dowdell-Raquel Passey (Alta) def. Lucy Findlay-Linda Findlay (Olympus) 6-3, 6-3

Emma Wilkinson-Kylie Woods (Timpview) def. Megan Mayo-Leah DeHart (Salem Hills) 6-4, 7-5

Championship

Wilkinson-Woods def. Dowdell-Passey 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Second doubles

Semifinals

Hailey Wilcox-Brooklyn Petersen (Provo) def. Kate Creamer-Lucy Foulks (Highland) 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (1)

Olive Esplin-Aubrey Page (Timpview) def. Kalli Olsen-Chanel Mansell (Brighton) 6-3, 6-3

Championship

Esplin-Page def. Wilcox-Petersen 6-1, 6-2